England-based strikers Shawn Goater and Kyle Lightbourne and indoor pro David Bascome will be available for next week's Copa Caribe at the National Sports Centre.

The availability of the trio, along with two other overseas players, goalkeeper Dwayne Adams and student Stanton Lewis, is seen as vital if Bermuda are to qualify for the finals in Trinidad in June.

The winners of the six qualifying groups, plus last year's champions, Jamaica, and host country Trinidad, will compete in the finals from June 1-14.

Yesterday, BFA general secretary David Sabir confirmed that contact had been made with Bascome, Goater and Lightbourne and that he was waiting to hear from the trio. Bascome has been negotiating a new contract with Harrisburg Heat who were recently eliminated from the first round of the National Professional Soccer League play-offs.

Play-offs in the English Second Division have cast a doubt over the availability of Goater and Lightbourne, who were brought back recently for the match against DC United.

Goater's team, Manchester City, look certain now to miss automatic promotion after losing at home on Saturday, which will mean two weeks of play-offs after their final league game on May 8.

Lightbourne's Stoke City are in eighth place, nine points away from a play-off place and with only four matches remaining. That situation could free up Lightbourne for the matches in Bermuda while Goater, too, could be allowed to return if City's final match against York has no bearing on the play-offs.

"We do recognise we have a few challenges as we are not completely sure on the status of Shawn in particular as his team is racing for promotion, either automatic or in the play-offs,'' said Sabir yesterday.

"We're hopeful that Kyle, despite the fact that his team are not having a successful run, might be able to get back, while we know that David has some issues on his contract and hopefully they will be resolved in the next couple of days.

"We are awaiting phone calls from each of these players to determine their arrival in Bermuda. Hopefully everything will work in the positive so that we can have what we consider Bermuda's strongest team.'' Bermuda finished last in a three-team qualifying group which also involved Cuba and hosts Cayman Islands last year, so the task facing the team is a big one.

"Talking to the coaches last year they definitely felt Bermuda were competitive and they felt Bermuda were unlucky in regards to converting their chances,'' said Sabir.

"The opposition is going to be formidable, we don't expect an easy passage despite the fact that we are on home soil. But the coaches believe the team is prepared and should do very well.'' Bermuda will be involved in the feature match in all three double-headers next Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, May 9. In opening round robin play, Cuba meet Cayman Islands while Bermuda play the Bahamas.

On the second night Cuba take on the Bahamas in the 7.00 opener with Bermuda playing Cayman. On the Sunday at 4.00 Bermuda meet Cuba in a match that could decide the finalist.