Before they begin their ICC Trophy quest, Bermuda's cricketers must attend to the small matter of defending the Catlin Cup.

In the first of their warm-up matches in England next week, the Island will seek to retain the title which they captured last June against the visiting Lloyds team here at the National Sports Centre.

The Clay Smith-led squad will on Tuesday clash with a Lloyds team anxious for revenge after having lost the inaugural match in Bermuda. The limited-overs fixture - originally scheduled for the Bank of England ground in Roehampton - has been shifted to Esher in Surrey. Players will wear coloured clothing and use a white cricket ball to replicate the match conditions which the Bermudians will experience in Ireland as they try to qualify for the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

"I know the squad are eagerly looking forward to defending this trophy and hopefully bringing it back to Bermuda at the conclusion of the tour. It is a significant game for us and it will also be our first warm-up game in English conditions.

"I expect a close game with exciting cricket," said Smith.

National coach Gus Logie said the match would afford both players and team management the opportunity to gain "valuable feedback and practice". He too anticipated a tightly-contested affair as "Lloyds will look to exploit the home-field advantage".

President of Catlin Insurance Graham Pewter said the Catlin group were very happy to support the preparation of Bermuda's cricket team in their endeavour to capture one of the five Cricket World Cup places.

"Last year the touring Lloyds side got a good flavour of the ability of the Bermuda side on a bowler-friendly wicket. Dwayne (Sluggo) Leverock mesmerised the Lloyds batsmen with a classic display of spin bowling to win the game and Man-of-the-Match honours. I expect that Bermuda will face a much stronger side eager to recapture this beautiful trophy on their home turf," said the top executive, representing the cup sponsors.

Meanwhile, promising pacer Stefan Kelly, who attends Oakham School in England on scholarship, will join the Bermuda squad for their back-to-back warm-up games against Guernsey and Namibia next Thursday and Friday respectively.

Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) chief executive Neil Speight that the coach determined it would be a good idea to have Kelly available so as not to stretch the squad's bowlers ahead of their Ireland commitment.

The 16-year-old, who represents St. David's locally, will be making his international debut.

Two-Day League cricket takes centre stage across the Island this weekend.

Starting today, Western Stars host defending two-day champions St.George's at St.John's Field, Willow Cuts take on Social Club at Somerset Cricket Club, unbeaten Southampton Rangers welcome Bailey's Bay to Southampton Oval and Devonshire do battle with St.David's at Devonshire Recreation Club.

In First Division action, Flatts host Somerset Bridge at Lords, PHC and Warwick lock horns at White Hill Field, Cleveland take on Police at Wellington Oval and Leg Trappers have been paired with Somerset at Sea Breeze Oval.