For the last two years, the Irish have been on the right side of two very high-scoring games, coming away with a 64-49 win last year and a 49-28 triumph in 1992.

The Bermuda Invitational XV have been bolstered by the recent confirmation of Damien Hopley, one of the most promising players in the English game.

Hopley, the England `A' centre who has this week been in Hong Kong for the Sevens, where his President's XV side went out in the quarter-finals to Western Samoa.

Last year, Simon Geoghegan was one of the outstanding players in the Classic and, having taken his skills to an even greater height this year, is bound to figure prominently once again.

His score for Ireland against England last month was one of the tries of the Five Nations Championship and with England `A' winger Harvey Thorneycroft in the Bermuda backline a scoring duel appears to be on the cards.

Jim Staples returns for his second Classic and, with his recent selection for the Irish team to tour Australia, is back at the top of his form. A series of injuries have prevented him from adding to his seven Irish appearances, but that is now likely to be rectified.

Niall Francis, the towering Irish lock with 24 caps from 1984 to 1987, and Tim Rodber, the England flanker with five caps, will have a major impact in the forwards with Francis' line-out jumping likely to prove a big factor.

The pairing of Matt Dawson, the English `A' scrum-half, and Gareth Rees, the Canadian out-half, is likely to form the base from which Bermuda will attempt to prevent an Irish hat-trick.

Rees was the architect of the Canadian win over Wales last November scoring 16 points in the process.

Philippe Daubas will add the Gallic flair to the Celtic backline. A member of the Racing Club and the French Barbarians, this will be his second appearance in the Classic.

One of the other interesting points of tomorrow's Classic will be the performance of former Australian international John Flett, who is currently playing for local club Mariners.

Flett played four times for the Wallabies in 1990, including twice against New Zealand.

While it is unlikely that last year's scoring record of 113 points will be bettered, the Classic always produces some wonderful tries and excitement.

This year's event, with the speedy line-up, is bound to live up to the high standard.