key strikers for the FA Cup final must be making champions Vasco a little anxious.

Vasco are just one win away from a second straight triumph in the most prestigious of all local competitions, but they may have to battle either Devonshire Cougars or St. George's in the final without Corey Hill and Irving Burgess both of whom played a key part in last Sunday's 3-1 win over PHC in the semi-final.

Both could be in the Caribbean watching the first two cricket Tests between the West Indies and Australia in Barbados and Antigua, the dates of which clash with the local FA Cup final.

Hill says he plans to travel with cricket champions Bailey's Bay while Burgess is also reported to be interested in heading south.

The first Test in Barbados will end three days before the FA Cup final on April 9, but the second in Antigua will start the day before the showpiece at the National Stadium.

Hill, who has helped transform Vasco's season since he graduated from Alabama A&M University in December, confirmed that he had made plans to visit Barbados and Antigua between March 30 and April 3, which would effectively rule him out of the final.

"This is something I have decided on for a long time,'' said Hill of the trip to the West Indies. Like Burgess, Hill also plays cricket during the summer months.

"I guess it's every domestic player's dream to play on the carpet for the most prestigious trophy that we have around. It will hurt but I've got other commitments.'' The loss of the pair would severely hinder Vasco who are trying to retain the trophy they won last year when they beat Dandy Town in the final. They are also still in the Friendship Trophy which has reached the semi-final stages.

That cup final is scheduled for April 2.

If Hill sticks to his travel plans, it will mark the second time that his hopes of making a full appearance in a FA Cup final have been dashed.

Back in 1990, while playing for Dandy Town, he was injured in the week leading up to the final against Somerset and spent most of the match on the bench before coming on as a substitute. Town lost 2-0.

Now that he has finished school Hill, 25, says he has plenty of time to experience FA Cup final success. "I have some time to play with, I'm not dashing back to school and then coming back home,'' he says.

"I really would like to be in the final but it's unfortunate there's a conflict of interest. I need a vacation.'' Vasco have lost just one of their last seven matches that Hill has played in since he returned from school in mid-December. And while their form in the league has been patchy, the club are in the semi-finals of both the FA and Friendship Trophy and are on course to return to the National Stadium to play in both finals for the second straight season.

"I'm kind of pleased with my game. I just need to work on my finishing a bit,'' said Hill. "I've been through this before where I have lacked the finishing touches for a while.

"Irving is doing exceptionally well and I'm pleased for him while Dwight (Basden) is coming into his own right now. To tell you the truth the best is yet to come.''