what team manager Denise Kyme described as "purely a learning experience.'' The quartet -- 17-year-old Derek Wheeler, 15-year-olds Nick Kyme and Daniele Bortoli, and 13-year-old Michael Stout -- face what will likely be the toughest competition of their young careers when they take part in the two-week World Junior Men's Championship.

Open to players under the age of 19, and not divided into age divisions, the biennial tournament has attracted teams from 29 countries including a number of professionals.

Asked how Bermuda might fare, Kyme replied candidly: "Anything except 29th would be considered a success.

"Ours is a very young team, probably one of the youngest in the championships and we're looking at this as purely a learning experience.

"Any win in any match would be considered a good win. A lot of the players, especially from Egypt, Britain and Australia, are basically full-time squash players.

"We simply don't have their kind of experience.

"The top seed, for instance, is Egypt's Ahmed Saizy and he's ranked 41st in the world among the pros. That tells you what we're up against.'' Kyme will accompany the four players as well as coach Jane Parker.

And while Kyme's son, Nick, is arguably the top player in the team, he's already looking at an early exit in the individual competition, having drawn a seeded player, New Zealand's Shawn Madden, in the first round.

"I think in the individual event, we'll be lucky to get anybody through the first round,'' admitted Kyme. "But there's a consolation event and hopefully we can pick up some wins there.'' The first week of the championships are devoted to the individual knockout with the second week reserved for the team competition.

Following the trip to Egypt, Nick Kyme, Michael Stout and his brother James will head to the Cayman Islands for the Caribbean Junior Championships.

TOUGH ASSIGNMENT -- Bermuda's young squash players face the world's best when they travel to Egypt for the junior men's world championships this week.

Pictured (from left) are Daniele Bortoli, Nick Kyme, Michael Stout and Derek Wheeler.