Two talented veterans have put themsleves in line to make a Davis Cup comeback as Bermuda's national tennis team prepares for a tough test in Cuba next March.

Michael Way and Donald Evans, both in their mid-thirties, who missed this year's Davis Cup promotion-winning campaign through work commitments, have expressed an interest in playing in next year's event at the National Tennis Club in Havana.

And that could produce a selection headache for the BLTA's National Selection Committee with three of this year's successful team, James Collieson, Ricky Mallory and Jenson Bascome, vying with Way and Evans for the four places.

In addition, there are a string of players in the Davis Cup training squad also staking their claim, such as Chris Watson, Daniel Miller, Jevon Roberts, Mark Cordeiro and Jovan Whitter.

"It's not such a bad problem to have when you have an abundance of people you can use,'' said BLTA president David Lambert.

"We are now in a position that we have been trying to get to for years. We have a group of young champions -- they have all won things -- and our players are more experienced and they know international competition is nothing to be frightened of.

"I believe we have the players not just to compete in Group Three, but to win Group Three -- but of course our opponents will have good players too.'' Davis Cup captain Steve Bean, who has masterminded two promotions for Bermuda, said: "Michael Way said he is interested in playing next year, if he can get the time away from work and Donald Evans says he is interested in joining us too.

"I think our chances of staying in Group Three are good and that is a realistic goal for us.'' One of last year's winning team, Dean Mello, has been ruled out by a serious injury.

But Bean felt the players he had this time would give him a strong team with a blend of youth and experience.

"Those guys (Way, Evans and Mallory) are so experienced, but Jenson and James will probably play most of the singles. Playing Davis Cup singles is very tough and demanding on a 35-year-old body.'' Bermuda won five out of six ties to finish second out of seven countries in the American Zone Group Four event in Honduras in March to earn promotion to Group Three.

Next year's event, to be played from March 12 to 18, involves eight countries drawn into two groups of four. Bermuda have been drawn against Jamaica, Bolivia and hosts Cuba in Group B, while Group A comprises El Salvador, Honduras, Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago.

After playing three matches in the round-robin phase, the top two in each group will go through to the straight knockout phase, playing off for the two promotion spots.

The bottom two group teams also play off -- to stay in the group and avoid the two relegation spots.

Bermuda last played in Group Three in 1998 in Bolivia and were relegated after losing a series of tight matches.

Bean added: "The big difference in Group Three is that the teams who do well tend to have one dominant player, who can win a singles match and then comes back for the doubles, often a player who has played on the satellite tour a bit. You don't get that in Group Four.'' BLTA honorary vice-president Alan Simmons said the tournament in Cuba would be played on hard courts and the experimental introduction of new ideas was possible.

"The ITF (International Tennis Federation) often uses Groups Three and Four to experiment with new innovations,'' said Simmons.

"In Cuba, we may be using short sets, up to four games instead of six and the best of five sets instead of three.

"And we may be using balls which are six percent larger than normal. They weigh the same, but travel through the air slower.

"But we won't get to find out until nearer the date. It's up to the tournament organisers what rules they want us to use.'' The vastly experienced Simmons added: "I think if we take all the people we want to and we go with our strongest team, we can survive in Group Three, but it will be tough.'' Donald Evans: interested in returning for next year's Group Three Davis Cup tie in Havana, Cuba.