Bermuda will have an eye toward defending their title at the forthcoming Caribbean Championship when they step onto the pitch against a vengeful New Zealand All Blacks outfit in the curtain-raiser to the World Rugby Classic at the National Sports Centre tomorrow.

Having struggled in recent years to approach the form that earned the local team a place in consecutive Plate finals in 1996 and '97, Bermuda have employed the services of Adrian Skeggs, an Australian, whose coaching skills have helped revitalise the squad under the stewardship of national coach Andre Battiston.

With a view to sweeping all before them in the Cayman Islands later this month and, by extension, gain entrance to the World Cup qualifiers, Skeggs has implemented a ball-control strategy that local supporters will witness first-hand, providing the All Blacks are in agreeable mood.

"Skeggsy is really keen on defence but also on offence he has us running different patterns," Bermuda captain Bobby Hurdle said. "We are looking to play a multi-phase attack, which he thinks will help us in the Caymans and also in the Classic. Obviously, if we keep the ball, they can't score and that increases our chances of coming out with a good result. The guys have rallied behind him and are working really hard, which is good to see."

A minimum of two matches in the Classic are seen as an ideal warm-up for what is to come in the Caymans where Trinidad and Tobago are the leading contenders. Due to a cash shortfall, the last competition was split into two divisions, with Bermuda emerging as champions in the north and Trinidad in the south. They, with the host country, will be the undoubted front-runners for the Caribbean crown, with Jamaica, Barbados and Bahamas leading the challenge among the outsiders.

"A lot of islands have caught up to where we are," Hurdle added. "It's going to be really difficult but we fancy our chances if we play to our potential."

First up, though, are the All Blacks, who have a mighty chip on their shoulder after successive failures in the Classic. "We understand that New Zealand is a formidable opponent and they are building a strong side after disappointment over the past couple of years of not winning it all," Hurdle said. "We expect a tough match but but we've been working on a lot of things in practice and go into every game trying to win.

"It's always an honour to play in the Classic and the guys are really up for it. You play in front of a big crowd locally, which you don't get often and it's really, really good rugby ... entertaining rugby."

The Classic squad will be minus a number of national team players that do not meet the competition's age restrictions, including Jonathan Cassidy, Nathan Browne, Jeff Sangster, Anthony Cupidor and Michael Kane, but Hurdle believes they can cope.

"There are a number of former national players or those who are not available for the Caymans trip who will be valuable members of the Classic squad," he said. "Patrick Cooper and Heath Robinson are two that spring to mind."

Champions South Africa take on the USA in the second match tomorrow at 3.30 p.m.

Photo: Teachers Number 8 will feature in this weekend's Classic, although he will not be available for the Caribbean Championships in the Cayman Islands.