to be the surprise package of next month's Commonwealth Games in Malaysia.

Certainly, national coach Gareth Davies is convinced his young charges make up as good an Island squad as any in recent memory.

And even without road accident victim Ronald Cowan, Davies expects his five-pack to claim a few international scalps, not to mention new national records, in what is regarded as the toughest swim competition outside the Olympics and World Championships.

Powerhouses Australia will almost certainly top the medal table with the likes of Canada, New Zealand, England and Scotland chasing them home.

As such, gold, silver and even bronze won't be within Bermuda's grasp.

But as Davies points out, qualification for any of the event finals in such exalted company would be regarded as a monumental achievement.

And the man on whom Bermuda will be pinning their hopes is Yale University student Stephen Fahy.

Four years ago at the Games in Victoria, Canada, Fahy made a splash when, after originally being named as only a relay team member, he got his chance in the 100 metres butterfly and came away with a new national record. He still failed to make it out of his heat, but the experience proved invaluable and today Fahy is arguably the Island's most accomplished swimmer.

His key event this time will be the 200 metres individual medley, although he'll also compete in the 100m butterfly, 100m free and relay.

In the IM, Davies is hopeful. "Realistically, to make the final he's going to have to swim two seconds faster than ever before,'' he said.

"Can he do it? Absolutely. And if he doesn't get into the final I think he's got a great chance of making the consolation final. He's shown great improvement this year and he's getting better.

While Fahy might be seen as the unofficial team leader, Davies will also be looking to Stephen Troake, Matthew Hammond, Trevor Ferguson and Alicia Mullan to post personal bests. Troake's main events will be the 100m and 50m free, although he's also entered in the 100m and 200m back; Hammond's strength is seen in the 200m free with appearances in the 100m and 400m free, while Ferguson, a last minute replacement for Cowan, will swim the 200m free and the relay.

Lone female Alicia Mullan will concentrate on the 400m IM but is also keen to enter the 800 IM.

Added Davies: "The one thing that stands out among this Games team is their fitness. They've had plenty of competition in recent weeks, and good competition at that. Now they can rest and taper and hopefully peak at the right time.'' But Davies acknowledges that Cowan, whose leg injuries from a road crash a couple of months ago failed to heal as quickly as had been hoped, will be missed.

"He would have given us a very strong relay team,'' added the coach.

"But that said, Trevor (Ferguson) swam extremely well, his fastest time ever, to make this team. And he thoroughly deserves his place.'' Davies also heaped praise on university student Mullan. "I don't think anyone's worked harder than Alicia,'' he said. "She's put in a huge amount of work with her college coach in Indianapolis.'' The squad continue training at the BASA pool before flying to England this weekend to round out their preparation. The Games open in Kuala Lumpur on September 11.

In other Games news, full bore rifle shooters Sinclair Raynor and Walter Trott have been selected by Bermuda Olympic Association following scrutinisation of their results in overseas competition.

They join small bore shooters Carl Reid and Nelson Simons.

Reid, Simons and Trott also represented Bermuda four years ago in Victoria where Raynor travelled as manager.

This time he earned his place after what he called "four years of hard work.'' "It's always been my goal to go to these Games,'' he added.

MALAYSIA BOUND -- Bermuda's Commonwealth Games swim team continued their preparation at the BASA pool yesterday. Pictured (from let to right) are Trevor Ferguson, Stephen Fahy, Alicia Mullan, Stephen Troake and Matthew Hammond.