capable of making it to the World Cup in South Africa in 2003.

Blades was captain of the 1982 side which made the ICC Trophy final and he says he is satisfied that they can do enough at this year's tournament in Toronto, Canada, to secure a top three place.

The team are currently being put through their paces by new coach Roland Butcher in readiness for the competition in June and July.

Butcher's arrival on the Island was protracted and there are those who believe there is too little time between now and the tournament to put together a cohesive side.

However, Blades, part of the committee that recommended Butcher's appointment, believes the likes of skipper Charlie Marshall, Clay Smith, Albert Steede and Dennis Archer will make Bermuda contenders if they play to the best of their ability.

Speaking in the Barbados Daily Nation recently, Blades said: "If they do what they have to do and play the game hard I think they can qualify.'' Bermuda's last campaign, the Red Stripe tournament in Antigua in October, ended in disappointment when they lost to both the Windward Islands and Guyana. However, it did see their first ever victory in the competition, against the Cayman Islands.

While a useful experience for the forthcoming tournament, Blades said it also had its downside for the players.

"I think at some point in time they get intimidated and once you get intimidated, in an arena with Test players, it can act as a demotivator when you get crushed,'' he said.

While extolling the virtues of Bermuda as a one day side, Blades said he did not think they were ready to graduate to four-day competition, such as the Busta Cup.

"Given the strength of the team as it is now, I don't think that four days would be good for them,'' he said.

"The level of fitness is not there, so obviously they won't be able to concentrate for more than a day. They are not fit, that's being frank.''