Bermuda will be out to tame the Pumas when they take to the field in this Sunday's World Rugby Classic opener.

Thousands are expected to watch a host of competitive and friendly matches over the following week, while many more will witness the prestigious event via television in the US, Canada and Great Britain.

As well as Bermuda and the Pumas of Argentina there will also be teams from Canada, the USA, New Zealand, Great Britain, South Africa and a combined outfit from Spain and Portugal.

Argentina are the reigning champions and Bermuda will have their work cut out if they are to get off to the best of starts.

Player-coach Peter Shillingford said he had been unable to finalise a team as Island players Bobby Hurdle, Freedom Burrows, Rob and Tom Steinhoff, Josh McGavern and Jon Cassidy, have all been in England with the touring West Indies party.

"They fly back on Wednesday/Thursday, but obviously I don't know whether there are any injuries or what their fitness levels are, so we won't be finalising the selection until Thursday evening,'' he said yesterday.

"We have pencilled in a squad and we will train Thursday and Saturday.'' Shillingford said it was a fun tournament, but there was a serious side to it as well.

"It is serious but we are looking to go out and enjoy it,'' he said.

"Obviously the past couple of years we have had a bit of success. We had some good wins a couple of years back, last year wasn't so good, but we are quietly confident we can get a result in one of the games and hopefully make it to the final.'' Shillingford, who plays in the back row, said his side were under no illusions about the scale of the task that faced them against Argentina.

"If they are anything to go by from last year they are going to be very fit, very quick and obviously they are the champions so it's a great opener for Bermuda.

"It's a good opportunity for the boys to express themselves. If we get a good crowd down there and it's a good day, it's an ideal opener to the tournament.'' Shillingford said working for each other was one of the Island's strengths.

"We work well as a team,'' he said. "There are no really outstanding players in any one position so we try and work as a unit and a team and keep the continuity.

"Hopefully we'll give them little opportunity to attack as like I said they are very quick and play a very open game.

"We like to do that as well so hopefully we can put them on the back foot, get behind them and then score a few tries.'' Shillingford said for the majority of players in Bermuda, tournament rugby didn't get any better than this.

"It's a big tournament. As far as the players are concerned for some of them it will be the pinnacle -- they are playing against international players from around the world and you can't get any better than that,'' he said.

Bermuda kick off against Argentina at 2.00 p.m. on Sunday at National Sports Club in Devonshire. The match is followed by New Zealand v Spain/Portugal at 3.30 p.m.

On Monday the Classic Lions entertain the USA at 2.00 p.m. followed by Canada v South Africa at 3.30 p.m.

Further matches run throughout the week, with the inaugural women's international between England and the USA taking place on Saturday evening, prior to the Classic Final.

On the prowl: Reigning Rugby Classic champions, the Pumas, seen here on their way to victory over Canada in last year's final, will provide tough opposition for Bermuda in the tournament opener at Nationals on Sunday.