Clay Smith believes this summer?s ICC Trophy is Bermuda?s best ever chance of qualifying for the World Cup.

Smith, desperate to talk about something other than this knee, said the 14-man squad named on Monday was as good as any other in recent years and that the eight months of intensive training gives the Island side ?a great chance? of making it into the top five in the 12-team tournament and booking a place for West Indies 2007.

?This is my fourth ICC and I think this squad is as good as the one we took to Kenya which I thought was the best one I had played in,? said Smith, whose side fly out next month for a UK tour ahead of the Ireland tournament.

?I think we have a realistic chance of qualifying, but more than that we are going down there to win this thing.

?You have to think like that or there is no point in going. In other years we have gone to these tournaments just to qualify and have come second when one team qualifies or fourth when three teams qualify ? We need to be looking to win the whole thing, and if we fail, a qualifying place could still come our way.?

And Smith believes Bermuda have the right squad to achieve their goal, with the 14 selected the best players available in his opinion.

?One thing that was different this year was that every player in the training squad had a realistic chance of making the final team,? continued Smith, on the selection panel chaired by former captain Arnold Manders.

?That meant for more intense training with every player fighting for their place. I think we have the right blend of batsmen, bowlers and spinners and also the right blend of youth and experience.

?We have a few older heads in the side and I think that will be very important for us during the competition. They have been there before and know what to expect and the experienced players will be able to guide the younger ones through what will be a gruelling tournament for us against some very good teams.?

Smith was also keen to rush to defence of Dennis Archer, a veteran whose selection has brought the most criticism.

?I think it is all very unfair on Dennis,? said the skipper.

?He is one guy you can really rely on to do the job. He has been a great servant for Bermuda and I have no doubt he will do a job for us this summer.?

Not only is Smith happy with the squad, he is happy with the way the squad has been groomed in the past months for the task ahead.

?The quality of the preparation has been fantastic,? continued Smith.

?The BCB have really gone overboard for us, something that was really needed.

?Things like the nutrition programme as well as the spinning and stretching classes have given us all something extra on top of the specific cricket training itself.

?I don?t think we could be better prepared for this tournament.?

Despite a victory over Barbados last year which Smith hailed as proof of what his side can achieve, Bermuda are going to have a tough time making it into the top five.

Half of the squad have played ICC cricket before and know what to expect ? a punishing schedule with a succession of quality teams coming at you with limited rest in between.

?It is a tough tournament and a tough format,? said Smith.

?Each match is a real challenge and then you have to be mentally strong enough to lift yourselves for the next games which comes at you very quickly.

?The mental preparation is going to be key for us, but fortunately many of us already know what to expect.?

The looming prospect of future England Test player Ed Joyce facing them in the opening game against Ireland, however, does not concern Smith.

?I think playing them in the opening game could work for us,? he added.

?There is going to be a lot of pressure on him and a lot of pressure on the team, playing against Ireland in Ireland in the opening game means they have all the pressure and we have nothing to lose.

?It is probably better facing them then rather than later in the tournament when they are firing on all cylinders.?