Bermuda's senior national soccer team could earn the right to play in Trinidad early next year if they advance beyond the preliminary round of the Shell/Caribbean Cup which will be played in the Cayman Islands on April 22, 24 and 26.

Bermuda Football Association yesterday confirmed that the squad, which has just begun serious training under Director of Coaching Clyde Best, would first have to battle against Cuba, Turks and Caicos and Cayman Islands in order to qualify for the quarter-finals set for Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica at the end of April.

Although the competition has lost Umbro as sponsors (it was previously named the Shell/Umbro Cup), it has not, according to BFA general secretary David Sabir, lost any of its popularity or prestige and remains the top soccer event among nations in the region.

"It's still very popular and a competition which we are looking forward to participating in with enthusiasm,' said Sabir.

This year's format remains virtually unchanged from a year ago with the final eight from six groups being placed in two divisions, A and B.

Bermuda's preliminary round has them in Group 6.

The full draw is as follows: Group 1 -- Surinam, French Guyana, Aruba, Guyana. Matches to be played in Surinam on March 4, 6, 8.

Group 2 -- Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Martinique.

Matches to be played in Barbados on March 18, 20, 22.

Group 3 -- St. Kitts/Nevis, Dominica, Guadeloupe, British Virgin Islands.

Matches to be played in St. Kitts/Nevis on April 1, 3, 5.

Group 4 -- Grenada, Antigua, Barbados, Netherlands Antilles, Anguilla. Matches to be played in Grenada on April 15, 17, 19.

Group 5 -- Haiti, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, US Virgin Islands. Matches to be played in Haiti on March 18, 20, 22.

Group 6 -- Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Cuba, Turks and Caicos Islands. Matches to be played in Cayman Islands on April 22, 24, 26.

The quarter-finals will have the winners of Groups 3, 5 and 6 competing in Group A in Trinidad and Tobago and Groups 1, 2 and 4 in Group B in Jamaica.

Dates of the quarter-finals have yet to be announced.

The BFA are still working on an incoming tour to the Island in December in order that the senior national squad can get match practice for the Shell competition.

While Sabir could not reveal any new information, it is hoped that a team can be brought for two friendly matches before the Christmas break.

Among the countries they have been negotiatiing with in the past month are Surinam and Puerto Rico, both of whom are involved in the Shell competition.