The fitness of Bermuda allrounder Lionel Cann remained uncertain at Press time last night on the eve of the national team?s potential Americas Championship clincher against USA today at the Maple Leaf Cricket Club in King?s City.

After blasting his way into the record books with a whirlwind knock of 139 against Argentina on Tuesday, a reoccurring lower back injury kept Cann sidelined for the match against Cayman Islands the very next day.

But with yesterday having been set aside for rest, Bermuda team officials were hoping Cann ? one of the team?s most important members ? would be able to recover in time.

The veteran cricketer has posted scores of 48, 30, 36, and 139 so far, and undoubtedly his availability for tomorrow?s key match against a so-far unbeaten American team coached by former Pakistan batsman Mushtaq Mohammad will only enhance the Island?s bid for Americas Championship glory.

According to Bermuda coach Gus Logie, 33-year-old Cann was scheduled to undergo a fitness test yesterday.

?We are still awaiting word from the medical people and I will also speak to Lionel to find out how he is doing,? Logie said.

?He is central, like everybody else, and it would be nice to have him on the field of play. But if it means at the cost of him risking further injury, then it won?t happen.?

In the event Cann is unfit to play today, Logie is still confident his team can continue playing with the same character and determination that has helped erase last week?s disappointing nine-wicket Intercontinental Cup defeat to Canada.

?I would hope we can continue playing with the same heart although as I?ve said before we would prefer to have our best players to choose from all of the time,? he said.

?Unfortunately, it hasn?t been but we?ve been able to soldier on without him at times. But certainly it would be nice to have him.? Logie spent yesterday reviewing video footage of the USA?s match against Argentina and planning a strategy he hopes will give Bermuda a first Americas Championship.

The US have built a new team around veteran batsmen Steve Massiah and Lenox Cush of Guyana.

Cush, a member of Guyana?s victorious Stanford 20-20 team, is also eligible to play for the US ? but only in regional tournaments such as the Americas and not other competitions sanctioned by the ICC.

Bermuda?s batsmen, who have racked up a total of 1,057 runs in their previous four one-dayers, will look to continue their high-scoring acts on a King?s City pitch they have not yet encountered.

?Both teams are going to have to play on it,? coach Logie stressed.

?We don?t have any concerns in terms of what will be, and what will not be.

?Our aim is to continue planning the way we have been planning all along and be as focused as we have been. We just have to play the best we can against the Americans, and let the rest take care of itself.?

In terms of team composition, Logie is again expected to go with the opening combination of Stephen Outerbridge and Kwame Tucker, with Cann likely to be the sole change from Wednesday?s match against Cayman Island should he be declared fit to play.

Fast bowler Kevin Hurdle has gone wicket-less in his last two outings, but he has still made his presence felt with some fiery bowling.

The Social Club quickie is now overdue a big haul, something his team-mates will be hoping arrives today.

Hurdle will likely share the new ball with George O?Brien jr for the second straight match.

O?Brien, too, could also trouble the USA batsmen with his pace on another bouncy green-top at King?s City that will seam about in the early stages. I.Romaine (capt), S.Outerbridge, K.Tucker (wkt), S.Mukuddem, J.Tucker, L.Cann, C.Smith, H.Durham, D.Leverock, K.Hurdle, M.Jones, A.Pitcher, G.O?Brien jr