still looking for their first win from the six-match tour of England.

But yet another defeat would not mean disaster, which is just as well because the home side's cricket manager, Jack Birkenshaw, plans to field a strong line-up.

Birkenshaw said yesterday that he is looking forward to meeting the Bermuda squad for a match, which has already rekindled memories of his trip to the Island on the last MCC tour.

He sought as much information about the Bermuda players as he gave about his own side, but he seemed confident that his charges can improve on their indifferent form in the 2nd XI competition this season.

In their latest match against Kent, Roseberry, younger brother of the Middlesex opener, and Mandy each made half-centuries but the bowlers were thrashed all over the field at Dartford as the home side rattled up more than 500 runs in their first innings.

Such generosity should encourage Bermuda's batsmen, who will also welcome the opportunity to test the Leicester fielders on a Grace Road playing area, which must be one of the largest on the county circuit.

But the big field at Northants turned out to be a distinct disadvantage to the tourists, and the story could well be the same again unless Bermuda's bowling and fielding are first-class.

The squad dropped plans for a practice session at Edgbaston yesterday and instead headed straight from their Birmingham hotel to Leicester.

Team manager McDonald Swan will confirm his side today and there are sure to be a number of changes from the side that lost against the MCC Young Cricketers on Tuesday.

Ricky Hill, who missed the last match because he was having treatment for the injury from the previous day, is again available for selection and must be a favourite to occupy one of the opening berths.

Anthony (Pacer) Edwards is also likely to return and, bearing in mind the selectors' plan to give everyone at least four games, Kenny Phillips should be retained, leaving Terry Burgess as the man who has to make way.

Gary Brangman and Arnold Manders have only played three matches each and are therefore likely to return, and Del Hollis could be one man who has to step down. He has played four matches already and against MCC was the most expensive bowler by far.

Swan has already indicated that Charlie Marshall will play -- in spite of the fact that he has yet to miss a game -- because he is in such good form. The same can be said for Dean minors, who went three matches without conceding a bye and who conceded one boundary in each of the last two games.

It may be that Swan and skipper Wendell Smith will take a closer look at the wicket before naming the side. Against MCC only two fast bowlers were used on a wicket that proved to be most helpful.

Swan is under no illusions about the difficulty of the task ahead, but he said team morale is still high in spite of the five defeats.

He said: "The important thing on this tour is learning, not winning, but it would be nice to get one before we go home. This is our last chance so you can be sure we'll be going all out to beat Leicestershire.'' Birkenshaw will name his side today but revealed at yesterday's match between Leicestershire and county championship leaders Hampshire that he aims to try some new blood.

David Gower, who took the field for Hampshire against his old county, is just one example of players who have left Grace Road in recent seasons. Chris Lewis and Phil DeFreitas are others, and as a result the club is working harder to find new talent.

One bright prospect is Jonathan Dakin, a South African youngster who was described by locals as a "big lad who bowls quite quickly''.

More threatening are the host of players who have first-team experience and who will turn out today in the absence of a first-class match.

Captain Russell Cobb has a top score of 31 to his credit and Vince Wells, who joined the county from Kent, is making a name for himself as an all-rounder.

Off-spinners Peter Hepworth and Martyn Gidley are also more than useful with the bat and have highest scores of 115 and 80 respectively.

But the biggest threat is likely to come from Paul Nixon, the wicket-keeper who has taken the first-team slot in place of the injured Phil Whitticase.

Nixon has been scoring well in the second team and reached a career milestone earlier this week when he struck a maiden century against Hampshire.

Throughout the tour Bermuda have made things difficult for themselves by not taking their chances. Dropped catches have invariably led to a big score, and Nixon is just the man to continue that trend if the tourists let him.

ANTHONY EDWARDS -- Bermuda's best bowler on tour.