but BFA technical director Clyde Best is still hopeful that Shaun Goater will be able to join the team on Monday.

Goater, who is recovering from knocks sustained in Monday's match against Crewe, including a cut in his head which required stitches, is hoping to be back along with other overseas players David Bascome and Meshach Wade of indoor team, Harrisburg Heat.

Goalkeeper Dwayne (Streaker) Adams, who is playing in North Carolina, is still on the Island and will stay for the match.

"Kyle won't be able to make it, they (Stoke City) have a cup match the same night,'' explained Best.

"Shaun has a game on Sunday so I'll speak with him on Sunday night. Right now he's injured, he's got stitches in his head and he's got a bad ankle.

"He's going in tomorrow to see if they will release him to play on Sunday and provided he doesn't get any further injuries we'll have a chance of getting him.'' Best sees the match as a vital warm-up for the Bermuda team as they prepare for World Cup qualifying matches starting in March.

"Obviously we want to have everybody. You can see that the Canadians are bringing a lot of their players and we want to be able to match them with what we've got,'' said Best, after reading yesterday that the Canadians would be bringing a number of European-based players with them.

Kyle ruled out Their top players include goalkeeper Craig Forrest of Best's former team, West Ham United, midfielder Brad Parker of Dutch club Feyenoord, Marc Bircham of English Second Division club Millwall and Third Division strikers Carlo Corazzin of Northampton Town and Martin Nash of Chester City who played against Goater's team recently in the FA Cup.

"I know our players are not going to let us down, they are going to go out there and compete,'' said a confident Best. "We can play a little bit, we've proven it in the past and we can prove it again.'' Best would also have liked to have Wolves pair John Barry Nusum and Joey Rego and North Village's Kofi Dill available for the match but the trio will be returning to school. One player he has in his plans is Devonshire Colts' midfielder Damon Ming, another college student.

"He's been there once before,'' said Best of Ming who was impressive for Colts in their two Dudley Eve final matches against Vasco. "I've always liked Damon, he's quick and in soccer pace is something you can't coach. Once you've got pace you can be dangerous. From playing in college you can see how he's improved and how far he has gone.''