Veteran fly-half Alan Oliver returns to international rugby next week as Bermuda look to regain the Caribbean Championship title they won two years ago.

Police player Oliver, out with a serious knee injury for a lengthy period, joins five new faces in the 21-man squad which flies to Freeport in the Bahamas this weekend for games against the hosts, Jamaica and Trinidad.

And coach Peter Shillingford, who is putting his trust in an entertaining running style of rugby to upset their opponents and re-establish the Island as the premier country in the region, is delighted by his return.

"It's great to have him back. I'm sure he's got a lot to prove and he's up and raring to go,'' said Shillingford.

Joining Oliver in the squad are front row player Rob Steinoff, Shane Gill in the back row, fly half Phil Heaney and Gavin Corcoran, captain of Mariners.

Steinoff grabbed two late tries on Sunday to settle Police's match with Renegades and Shillingford said of him: "He's come on a lot in the last year and has the potential to play at a much higher level.'' The new players are having to adapt to Shillingford's new approach.

"It's something we've been working on since I became coach,'' said Shillingford, now entering the second year of his tenure. "We're looking at a 15-man game with more spontaneity and counter-attacking. The players have been adapting well and I think it shows in the results we've had in recent games.'' Ironically, it's a form of the game that Shillingford didn't favour as a player himself.

"I'm of the old school,'' the former player for Moseley in England added. "I love a forward battle.

"But that's the way that rugby is going and it's more enjoyable for the crowds.'' However, Shillingford, who also turned out for the Barbarians, reckons one of the major strengths of his side, who must start as slight favourites for a title they missed competing for last season because of World Cup commitments, is their adaptability.

"We're very mobile,'' he said. "A lot of players can play in various positions and we are able to change our game plan if necessary.

"I'm not going to say we'll win the tournament but we've got a very good, well-balanced squad with the potential to play good rugby. A lot depends on what happens on the day.'' Bermuda open their challenge against the Bahamas on Monday, with matches against Jamaica on the Thursday and Trinidad two days later to follow.

Trinidad are regarded as Bermuda's old adversaries but Shillingford and manager John Williams suggest that the game against the Bahamas, on the islands' Independence Day, could be the one to watch.

Bermuda beat them 24-3 in a World Cup eliminator and that, said Williams, was a hard physical battle.

"I think it will be the hardest game physically,'' he added.

Meanwhile, Bermuda Rugby Football Union officials will meet with their Caribbean counterparts in Freeport to discuss the report into the game in the region prepared by John Bates of the International Rugby Board.

Bates compiled his report on flying visits to the various nations during the summer.

Top of the agenda is likely to be the practicality of establishing a Caribbean side for the 2003 World Cup.

Bermuda, as one of the strongest teams in the region, might be expected to contribute players to any such side.

But while the IRB is keen to see their plan come to fruition, the logistics are likely to prove a stumbling block.

Williams said: "You're talking about the involvement of something like 12 countries. I can't say what's likely to come out of the meeting. The logistics of selection and training are going to be difficult, although there is talk that there could be a North v South Caribbean trial game to help select players for a full team.'' Seven major sponsors have contributed to the costs of the Bahamas trip which are expected to reach $35,000.

Bermuda Container Lines, Bacardi, Jardine, Glenco Insurance, Stockton Re, Gateway Systems and the Bank of Bermuda are among those who have helped out.

Players will still have to dip into their own pockets to pay some of their expenses but Williams said that, individually, it was the cheapest trip that most of them had been on because of the backing.