In-form ?keeper Cymande Davis could be on the verge of realising a long-time dream of suiting up in a Bermuda national team jersey.

Davis, who has proven to be a vital cog for club side Dandy Town in recent weeks, has emerged as a strong candidate to replace North Village goalie Zane Hendrickson who has made himself unavailable for this Sunday?s opening tour clash with visiting Santos of Brazil at the National Sports Centre.

Hendrickson is due to travel overseas on the weekend.

National coach Kyle Lightbourne, who added seven new faces to the squad that competed in last November?s Digicel Cup tournament in St.Vincent, yesterday confirmed that Davis, pictured below, was presently being considered for the job.

?This is something that we?re currently working on,? confirmed Lightbourne, alluding to Davis? possible inclusion to a training squad of 35 players to be reduced to 20 on Saturday.

?I cannot confirm anything at this point in time. However, I am working on having Cymande join the team.?

If given the nod, Davis will then be in competition with PHC Zebras ?keeper Jay Smith for duties between the sticks.

Meanwhile, with three training sessions under their belt, the national squad take on a League Select XI tonight in a warm-up match at the NSC. The Select XI will compete against the visiting South American club team next Thursday night at Somerset Cricket Club in the final match of the three-game tour.

So far Lightbourne has been delighted with enthusiasm shown in practice and the encouragingly large attendance.

?Overall the training sessions have been well attended,? he noted. ?And I have been impressed with the players? attitudes and I think everyone now understands the importance of playing for the national team.?

Lightbourne is also pleased by the commitment shown by Southampton Rangers midfielder Travis Wilkinson, along with Devonshire Cougars? trio Heys Wolfe, Domico Coddington and Raymond (Packy) Beach.

After being excluded from former national coach Kenny Thompson?s World Cup plans last year, Beach and Wolfe are poised to finally make debuts at the senior national level.

Beach has notched 19 goals in only ten appearances so far this season for Cougars.

Lightbourne added: ?This is going to be a very stern test for us because of the quality of opposition that we are up against. But we also have to use the match as a learning experience.

?That?s the ultimate goal for us . . . to use the match as a learning curve and try to see if we can put on a good performance by going out onto the pitch, showing the right attitude, not be fazed by the Brazilians and try to play some attractive football.?

The former Coventry City professional, however, will not reveal his starting eleven until actual match day.

Lightbourne hinted at the possibility of employing a 3-5-2 formation, something he hopes will contain the flamboyant Brazilians ? particularly on the wider and smoother playing surface of the ?carpet?.

?I love to play a system with three at the back and basically I?m going to persevere with that,? he insisted.

?I think everyone is familiar with their (Santos) 4-4-2 system and so if we need to make any adjustments during the match, we can adapt.

?I think that?s the versatility of that system (3-5-2) as it can also be played as a 4-4-2 system.

?But things are really beginning to build and it?s going to be a stern test for us.?

Santos are due to arrive in Bermuda on Friday.