Harvey, the make-up of the 24-player Bermuda squad for next month's crucial World Cup qualifier puts an even bigger smile on his face.

The Bermuda national team captain is particularly confident as the squad readies for the game against the USA Eagles on March 12 at National Sports Club.

As the local players busily go about preparing for the titanic battle, there is strong optimism because they have managed to name an even stronger squad than the one which captured the Caribbean Championship title in October.

Team morale and enthusiasm is high because talented players like back Andrew Correia of Teachers, scrum-half Gareth Davies and Grant Tompkins of Police are back on the squad.

However, Harvey and national team coach Keiron Peacock still realise the challenge that lies ahead is monumental considering the Eagles are largely an unknown quantity.

"We've chosen a great squad, it's a little bit stronger than the one that was in the Caribbean because we've got two of our best scrum halfs available now in Correia and Davies,'' said Harvey.

"We've also now got Tompkins, who adds a little bit of weight and height to the pack. And hopefully Ali Nicholl, who was vice captain last year, will be fully recovered from his injury,'' added Harvey.

While there is little information about their opponents, Harvey believes they could be superior physically because some have been involved in American football.

Coach Peacock pointed out that four videotapes of the Americans have now reached the Island along with statistics from a recent Eagles game against Australia. Bermuda will be analysing them with great care, and have increased workouts from one to three times a week.

"We are training that much to prepare for a team whose strength will probably cause us some problems. They are a bigger team and we will have to counter this difference with a lot of different plays,'' said Peacock. "If you go against them with the traditional game of rugby it is simply not going to work. They are mostly big, ex-football players.'' Harvey feels that the Bermuda team will need to be heavier to combat the visitors.