Bermuda's national team are set to face another Major League Soccer giant at the National Sports Centre (NSC) tonight, kick-off at 8 p.m.

The Island side, minus several overseas players, will take to the field against the Colorado Rapids, knowing that a good performance is essential as they try to build up confidence ahead of the second leg World Cup qualifying match against the Cayman Islands later this month.

The friendly will be Bermuda's last chance to play against quality opposition and coach Keith Tucker says his troops are ready for the challenge.

"Our preparation for the World Cup qualifier has been good thus far", stated Tucker. "We have been trying to instil in the players (that they must) work from the defence first and then worry about everything else.

"This is why we are bringing in these sides. Offensively they will test our defence and put them under pressure and when we go forward they will give us a stiff task in trying to break down their back line.

"When you are in training, either with your country or at club level, you are playing against your friends. By the Bermuda Football Association (BFA) bringing in overseas teams, it forces the players to actually play and think the game better because they don't know the opposition they are playing against.

"But in training the boys have been very disciplined in the way they move the ball. They are not forcing passes through tight spaces. So the general thought is we should be in good stead going forward."

And with almost a full squad to choose from, the coach says he's happy with the general atmosphere.

"There are only a few people missing from the (New England) Revolution match. Aljame Zuill is injured and will not feature along with our overseas players, but we are confident in what we have and will enjoy the game."

Just fresh back from their pre-season trip to London, where the Colorado Rapids were hosted in grand fashion by their partner club Arsenal, their players have only had a few days to relaxt.

"Our guys are a bit tired, but they are used to the travelling as most of them have been doing this for some time now," said Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo.

And with Bermuda's opponents less than three weeks' away from their season-opener against the Los Angeles Galaxy, Clavijo feels his charges are in good shape going into the final days of pre-season training.

"We are in the final phase of our training, so we are really looking for everyone to be match fit, and get some playing time under their belts", said the Rapids boss.

"Some of our international players have never played together before so it is vital to get them all on the same page."

Led by captain and US national team player Pablo Mastroeni, who is out through injury, the Colorado-based side did not make the MLS play-offs for the first time in six years, and are looking forward to starting the season on the right foot.

"We have a good mixture of international and US players, so we will expect at the very least to make the play-offs this season," said Clavijo. "In the off-season we acquired players we needed, not necessarily who we wanted.

"Last season we were in a spot of bother with the scoring, so we went out and got a few players who will help in that department.

"The Galaxy are showing their buying power with the likes of (David)Beckham and (Ruud)Gullit coming in. Colorado on the other hand, have gone out and got home grown talent to mix with our internationals.

"Take nothing away from LA, they have a very good team and this is what makes our league unique."

The team will be in Bermuda until Sunday, and will then conclude their pre-season training with an exhibition match against the Chicago Fire in Jackson, Mississippi on Saturday, March 22.

Bermuda squad:

Stephen Astwood, Nigel Burgess, Keishen Bean, Domico Coddington, Darius Cox, Seion Darrell, Devaun DeGraff, Lashaun Dill, Corey Dowling, Timmy Figuerido, Jemeiko Jennings, Damon Ming, Brendon Minors, Kevin Richards, Cecoy Robinson, Omar Shakir, Kwame Steede, Marquel Waldron, Michael Parsons, Jason Williams.