Having sized up tonight?s opponents in their opening tour match against a local select on Tuesday night, Bermuda coach Kyle Lightbourne is confident the national squad can rise to meet the challenge at hand.

Lightbourne was among the sparse crowd along with assistant Paul Scope to witness the visiting New England Revolution record a 2-1 win at the National Sports Centre two days ago.

Rating the national squad?s chances of success tonight as 50/50, Lightbourne said: ?As long as we can create chances and everyone plays their roles with the right attitude, fighting spirit and national pride then there?s no reason why we shouldn?t be successful.

?It?s all about capitalising on opportunities and minimising mistakes.

?And as a coach you would prefer to have your team make the most of opportunities. That?s what we have to aim for.?

Lightbourne would also like to see his charges maintain a higher level of intensity throughout tonight?s match.

The former Coventry City striker was due to announce a final squad of 17 players last night. Dandy Town?s Lionel Furbert will again wear the captain?s armband, Lightbourne disclosed.

As to his assessment of the visiting Major League Soccer (MLS) side, Lightbourne noted: ?I thought they looked a bit ring rusty with the players being in their pre-season. They passed the ball around well, kept possession and got some decent players on the ball. But I don?t think they were really tested to the point where any weaknesses were exposed. But they didn?t look that quick at the back.?

And although Tuesday night?s final scoreline would suggest a close match, Lightbourne said he expects the Revolution to come out tonight all guns ablaze.

?Having got their fist game out of the way I expect the New England manager (Steve Nicol) wouldn?t have been happy by his team?s overall performance. But winning breeds confidence,? he warned.

?Obviously it?s going to be difficult for us. But they?re going to have spells and we?re also going to have our spells in the game.

?So it all depends on which Bermuda team turns up on the day and up to me to get them in the right frame of mind to go out there and get the required job done.?

Lightbourne?s squad has been bolstered by the returns of Reading striker Shaun Goater and Colorado Rapids fourth-round MLS 2004 Superdraft pick, Kevin Richards.

US Indoor professional striker and 2004 Athlete of the Year John Barry Nusum could not obtain a release from Philadelphia KiXX, according to Lightbourne.

After ?trying a few new combinations?, Revolution also anticipate a bigger challenge from the national team.

?I think the Revolution will certainly play to the level of their competition and we expect the national team to be a stronger team than the select were,? noted New England spokesman Brad Feldman.

?We were trying new combinations on Tuesday night with a mixture of youth and experience. And we would like to leave the Island with an undefeated record which is good for our confidence and also looks good on paper.

?But at the end of the day Steve Nicol (head coach) recognises this is still only the first week of outdoor training. You have to keep in mind that some of the players are new to the squad. And so other than missing a few chances that obviously got away and one spill by the goalkeeper. . . I think we were generally pleased.?

Last night the Revolution strikers got a chance to practice their shooting, trouncing Dandy Town 7-0 last night in a 45-minute training match.