With a new captain and seven survivors from the 1992 qualifying squad, Bermuda's national team depart for the British Virgin Islands today to launch another World Cup campaign.

Goalkeeper Timmy Figureido, who missed the recent Florida training trip, is back in contention while the likes of Stanton Lewis, Andrew Rahman, Tokia Russell, Stephen Astwood, Otis Steede and Rohaan Simons all get the chance to secure their places in the new-look team.

Defender Shannon Burgess of Devonshire Colts will captain the team, playing in the heart of defence possibly with Kentoine Jennings, who is one of the surviving members from the last World Cup team eight years ago.

The captain of the '92 team, Meshach Wade, is in the squad along with his Harrisburg Heat team-mate, David Bascome, while the side have also been boosted considerably by the availability of England-based strikers Shaun Goater and Kyle Lightbourne.

Assuming all six start, along with goalkeeper Dwayne (Streaker) Adams, that will leave two wingback and two midfield places still to be decided for Sunday's first round, first leg match in Tortola.

Technical director Clyde Best, one of six officials accompanying the team, isn't saying much about the line-up, though he knows what he wants.

"I'm not saying the system right now but I know what we're going to do,'' said Best yesterday.

"We'll sit down with the players, probably on Friday evening, and go over the system we want to play.

"Let's bear in mind we are playing away from home so we don't want to throw all caution to the wind.'' Best admitted to knowing little about BVI, but vowed the team would respect the Island which has a population of about 16,000.

"This is their first World Cup, I do know that, but I'm more worried about what we have to do. Remember we're playing away from home so we have to treat it as that,'' he stressed.

While one or two notables are missing, including college students John Barry Nusum and Kofi Dill whom Best regards highly, and PHC striker Kenny Mills who has scored six goals in his last two matches, the technical director said it was the strongest possible squad under the circumstances.

"I'm happy with it, I think it's a good squad with one or two young players introduced,'' he said.

"And we probably could have had one or two more if school allowed. But what I'm really happy about is to get the professional players. It's the first time we've had the chance to work with all four and a lot is going to be cast on them. We will expect a lot from them because they are professionals.

"With John Barry and Kofi school has to come first. Joey Rego is another one.

We've got some promising youngsters that I'm enthused about.

"Kenny Mills is still in the picture and we have to look at that, but we'll sit down with Kenny, have a talk and work everything out.'' Best is also excited about three of the present squad's youngest players, Astwood, just 18, Simons and Russell, who performed well on the Florida trip.

"What these boys have done in such a short period of time is unbelievable,'' said the coach.

"We've also got people like Dwight Basden, Keishon Smith, Kenny Mills, Randy Spence and Reggie Tucker who are still in our plans.'' Squad: Officials -- Elroy Ratteray (Head of Delegation), Clyde Best (technical director), Robert Calderon (head coach) Mark Trott (assistant coach), Maureen Ryan (physiotherapist), Vance Brown (equipment manager). Players -- Dwayne Adams, Timmy Figureido, Shannon Burgess, Clifford Roberts, Kentoine Jennings, Karl Roberts, Andrew Rahman, Stanton Lewis, Paul Cann, Devarr Boyles, Tokia Russell, David Bascome, Meshach Wade, Stephen Astwood, Otis Steede, Shaun Goater, Kyle Lightbourne, Rohaan Simons. The team will return to Bermuda on Tuesday.

Staking a claim: Tokia Russell (top) and Stephen Astwood.