Kyle Lightbourne?s men flew out yesterday to take on a Trinidad side full of talent and eager to post a strong result ahead of their World Cup qualifying clash with Panama next month.

The preparations for that vital June 4 match saw Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker arrange a game against El Salvador for tonight but the late withdrawal due to a hurricane devastating the Central American country left the Caribbean side with no opposition.

They attempted unsuccessfully to get Cuba, Paraguay and Norway and then settled on Bermuda who raised a team within five hours of taking the call from CONCACAF president and Trinidadian Jack Warner.

Although former Manchester United star and star player Dwight Yorke won?t be returning from Sydney for the trip, former Premiership star Stern John will play.

John, now with Coventry City, was team-mates with Shaun Goater for the final seven games of the season after the Bermudian legend went on loan to Highfield Road but the two won?t be reunited this week as Goater is unable to make the trip.

The absence of Goater, Khano Smith, who wasn?t released by New England and also Major Indoor Soccer League Rookie of the Year John Barry Nusum means Lightbourne?s side is essentially a young one, but there is some experience in the form of Kentoine Jennings Maurice Lowe and Stephen Astwood.

The biggest name in the side is Damon Ming, pictured, who was back in Bermuda for the summer anyway after a season with semi-pro Maidenhead United.

Assistant coach Paul Scope was unable to join the side leaving yesterday, leaving Jennings, who coached North Village to FA success last year, to help out Lightbourne.

?Kentoine was on vacation in Baltimore but answered his country?s call,? said Scope, unable to travel with the rest of the party due to a knee operation last week.

?Kyle and I are delighted that Kentoine still shows hunger to turn out for the national team. He is a leader, and will be someone the youngsters lookup to.

?We have plenty of good experience up front with Rohaan (Simons), Stevie (Astwood) and Aljame (Zuill) despite Shaun, John Barry and Khano all not being available for this trip.

?Kyle and I are particularly delighted to welcome Stevie back as he has been unavailable to us since we took over the national team.

?He looks lean and fit in training and gives us another option as he can also be very effective in a midfield role.?

With the short notice and the May 24th holiday, we had several guys who could not get off work, although I am hoping to take one or two additional players down with me for the second game, just in case we pick up injuries from the first game ? I also told Kyle to pack his boots as cover!?

In the last games between the clubs at the National Sports Centre in February last year, Bermuda lost the first 1-0 before drawing 2-2 later that week ? although tonight?s task will be significantly tougher.

The home team will be taking the 5.30 p.m. game at the Hasely Crawford Stadium very seriously, with squad members playing for places for the ?Journey to Germany? campaign.

They lost to Peruvian champions Alianza Lima 1-0 at home last week and will be looking for overseas stars like John, Marvin Andrews (Rangers) and Clayton Ince (Crewe) to shine.

Although Bermuda were originally invited down just for one game, it worked out cheaper for the side to stay until Saturday and they will be take on the home side again on Friday.

?We will pick the strongest team available for today?s feature game and will blood the youngsters in Friday?s game which will be a more low key affair in preparation for the game against Man City where we want to field a mainly Under 23 team,? added Scope.

The Bermuda squad features six teenagers, the youngest Kris Frick at 16, but with Domico Coddington only turning 21 yesterday and Nigel Burgess just 23, the travelling side will form the basis for the Pan-Am Games squad.