the third Pan-American Junior Hockey Games.

The Island team face the Games hosts at midday in Santiago's Manquehue Stadium in temperatures which are expected to climb over 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

After a long journey and some 40-odd hours without sleep, the team have trained every day this week on the artificial surface on which the competition will be played -- a far cry from the grass field of National Sports Club.

The change in surface has caused some teething problems but they expect to be ready for their opening game, said coach Nicola Wilkinson yesterday.

Tomorrow the side face Venezuela and, after a rest day on Monday, will be back in action against Uruguay on Tuesday and Canada on Wednesday.

The Bermuda team -- with an average age of 16 and a half -- have prepared for two years for the event at a cost of over $100,000.

Wilkinson said the team were not looking for a medal in the competition, but to assess where they stood on the world stage -- "taking into consideration the lack of proper facilities and Government support for the sport.'' The results, she added, would also be an indication of the work still to do as most of the squad will be available for the next Pan-American Games in four years' time.