still confident of clipping some Eagles' wings.

USA Eagles' wings, that is.

The squad, assembled for the mammoth World Cup qualifying challenge against the United States at National Sports Club on March 12, has been hit hard with injuries to key players.

Some of the players have been hurt during training, but coach Keiron Peacock and team officials do not appear to be overly concerned right now.

"Obviously the situation...is far from being ideal because we wanted our starting lineup to be fit and ready going into the game,'' said Peacock yesterday. "However, if the injured players are unable to play we are confident that those who are used as replacements can do a good job.'' One player doubtful for next week's game is front row sparkplug Danny Forsythe, who has suffered a second-degree hamstring tear. Peacock claims that Forsythe's chances of playing are "not particularly high.'' Others who have joined the growing sick list are fly-half and kicker Phil Heaney, outside centre Dave Conway and scrum half Andrew Correia.

All are attempting to shake off their injuries in time to play the Eagles.

Heaney is hobbled by a sore toe, and could be replaced by Declan O'Laughlin, a formidable kicker in his own right who has returned to Bermuda this season, while Conway has a pulled calf muscle.

Correia is suffering from a first-degree hamstring pull.

The injury to Correia -- who has been a national team member since 1981 -- is serious, but last night the veteran was expecting to play.

A hard, gritty competitor, Correia, one of nine Bermudians in the starting line-up, was forced to the sidelines with a calf injury when Bermuda won the Caribbean Championships in November. He is eager to get a crack at the Americans.

"Yes, I am hopeful about playing,'' said Correia. "It's too bad about the injuries to other players though.'' Correia, who has been a long-serving regular on the national team since returning from school in England in the early 1980s, said that the squad was working diligently to increase its fitness level for the beefy Eagles.

He also noted that Bermuda were fully aware that being physically fit may be one area in which the local team could use to exploit the Americans.

"We expected them to be a lot bigger, but, really, they are not that much bigger than us. But we know that they will be stronger and more experienced because they have had more exposure against international teams,'' said Correia.

"We are doing a lot of fitness training, which I feel is one of the ways to overcome the difference in size and strength. A lot of games are won and lost in the last 20 minutes and if we are fitter then it could be used as an advantage late in the game.'' Peacock has hinted that Bermuda would be unwise to go up against the Americans using a conventional strategy, and Correia agreed.

"We've got to try and keep the ball away from them, that's one thing. But we have a few tricks up our sleeves that I can't reveal right now. We certainly have to mix things up a lot against an experienced team like the Eagles,'' said Correia.

"It's hard for me to say just what our strengths and weaknesses are right now. But against Queen's University our weakness was that we were not mentally prepared during the first half but came back to sort things out in the second, where we were able to dominate.'' While the injuries remain a concern, Correia is pleased with the mood of the team and claimed that everyone was "psyched up'' for the challenge.

As part of Bermuda's preparation, the team will converge on the Belmont Hotel beginning tonight where they intend to devote maximum attention this weekend toward next Saturday's game. They will return to the Belmont next weekend.

In addition to intensive training they will also carefully dissect game film, which features recent matches involving the Eagles and various international opponents.

Also, top Welsh coach Allan Edmunds will be on hand to help Bermuda prepare for the game.

The Eagles, meanwhile, will arrive in Bermuda on Sunday and will be staying at Elbow Beach Hotel. They will be training at Police Recreation field each day at 10 a.m.

ANDREW CORREIA -- Determined not to let aches and pains keep him out of game against the US.