Indoor player Meshach Wade will be Bermuda's only professional available for this weekend's World Cup first round, second-leg qualifier against the British Virgin Islands at the National Sports Centre.

It was already known that both English-based pros, Shaun Goater and Kyle Lighbtourne, who combined for four goals in the first-leg 5-1 victory, would not be called back. And yesterday, Bermuda Football Association technical director Clyde Best confirmed that he would not be demanding the return either of Wade's Harrisburg Heat team-mate David Bascome.

The Heat are currently chasing a play-off spot in the National Professional Soccer League and were desperate to keep Bascome for this weekend's matches.

Four changes are now guaranteed from the Bermuda team that won two weeks' ago, with Kentoine Jennings -- sent off early in the first-leg game -- serving a one-match ban.

But even without the three professionals, Best believes the comfortable 5-1 lead earned in BVI should be enough to take his side comfortably into the second round against Antigua next month.

"It's a loss but a loss we can live with because of the amount of goals that the BVI will have to score,'' said Best yesterday.

"We're in a great position. David's club wanted to keep him back, they've got one or two important games coming up and I understand that.'' So comfortable is Bermuda's position (BVI have to score at least five times) that Best and head coach Robert Calderon will likely look to three under-23 squad players to fill some of the vacant positions.

North Village defender Kofi Dill is due back on Spring break from college and could slot into Jennings' spot in the heart of defence while another college student, Rohaan Simons, and PHC teenager Stephen Astwood could get the chance to lead the attack in the absence of Goater and Lightbourne.

If more experience is needed in defence then Karl Roberts, who received a red card in league play on the weekend, could get the nod as he is still eligible.

"We've got people like Kofi Dill who has played before and done a tremendous job for us, so we've got lots of cover,'' said a confident Best.

"People like Rohaan and Stevie will probably have to start, we'll have to wait and see. But young people will play.

"What is pleasing about those two is they have a very high work ethic and I would hope a lot of our younger players will look at them and emulate the effort that they see these two put in.'' Best expects Antigua, who Bermuda beat in the team's last qualifying campaign eight years ago, to be a tougher side to beat than BVI.

The draw has been kind to Bermuda but Best warned there was no room for complacency.

"I think the next round will probably be the toughest, up until we get to a team like St. Kitts,'' added Best.

"If we get past Antigua I think we're in pretty good shape. The draw's been favourable, yes, but you still have to go out and win. You can't sit back on your laurels and just say the draw's been favourable, you still have to go out and perform.'' David Bascome: will skip this Sunday's second leg World Cup qualifier in a bid to help his Harrisburg Heat team earn an NPSL play-off spot.