Albert Steede sees himself as a good candidate again for the captaincy of the Bermuda cricket team.

But the Western Stars skipper isn't lobbying for the job, even though he feels he is better equipped to handle it the second time around.

Steede was captain of the Bermuda team in the 1994 ICC Trophy even though he did not captain his league team. And while he says he is a better captain now that he is doing the job full time with his club, Steede insists the job isn't in his plans.

"That's behind me now, I had my chances to lead the team and wasn't successful,'' said Steede, 32. "I'm more than willing to do what I have to do to play a significant role in the national team.'' Steede's form this season has not been affected by the added responsibility of captaincy, as he continues to blast his way again towards 1,000 runs before Cup Match.

In the process Stars are threatening to make a clean sweep of the honours under Steede's leadership, having already landed the Camel Cup and Central Counties. They are still unbeaten in the league and this weekend meet St.

George's in the quarter-finals of the Knockout Cup which they won last season.

"I think I'm more astute to the game and understand it a great deal more now,'' said the captain.

"Looking at it now I was probably prematurely captain but as a young, exuberant person being offered the captaincy of his country, who could say no? "Now I think is probably a great time for me to lead the team, with my age, enthusiasm and experience but I've had my chance, wasn't successful and so I have to move on. Hopefully I'm still a part of the team and can play a significent role in us winning the ICC and going on to the World Cup.'' The national team has a tour to Canada coming up next month and then the Red Stripe in September or October in what will be a busy next few months leading up to next year's ICC Trophy in Canada. Steede leaves no doubt as to his priority.

"My focus is the ICC and the World Cup, because without the ICC we won't make it to the World Cup and without the World Cup we won't generate funds for our youth programme and national programme,'' he said.

"When you make it to the World Cup they allot you a certain amount of funds and the money would be able to help us develop our programmes which is needed.

Kenya and Bangladesh are funded tremendously.'' Steede has plenty on his domestic plate in the meantime, however, as winning the league remains the top priority at Stars.

Their league match at the end of this month with defending champions Southampton Rangers could be the clincher, even though both teams will have a few matches remaining after that.

"Rangers and Stars in the last two years or so have always been a good game with people getting value for their money,'' said Steede.

"I would suggest anyone who is a cricket enthusiast would want to come and watch this match. It is a must-win for Rangers and, to a degree, a must-win for us.

"If we win then that would alleviate a lot of pressure going into the latter half of the season. That (Rangers) team is very spirited with Clevie (Wade) in it. I'm sure it's going to be an entertaining match, very much so.'' After his 43 against Police on Sunday, Steede now needs just 155 runs to reach 1,000 before Cup Match for the second straight year. Going into the 1999 Cup Match, he had already scored 1152 runs in 14 innings.

"I thought last year was one of my better seasons and it would be very difficult to even come close to it, but I'm not doing too bad this year,'' said the opening batsman.

Steede has also scored over 800 runs in Cup Match and could soon join Wendell Smith as the second player to pass the 1,000 mark in the classic.

Success this season for Stars is not just about Steede's batting, as former captain Arnold Manders showed on Sunday with his first century of the season.

Recently Steede's veteran opening partner, Treadwell Gibbons, also stepped up with a big century against Bailey's Bay (122), when Steede failed.

"I guess we've earned respect and the only way we can keep the respect is by doing what we're doing off the field which will help us on the field,'' said the captain.

This could be Stars' last big chance to sweep the honours board and what a way it would be for some of their senior players to bow out.

Four players in the team have passed the age of 40 and, as Steede revealed: "There are at least three who won't be there next season.

"It's still too early to say we're going to win the league. Anything can happen, all it takes is one loss and things could go haywire. But we're a very positive and optimistic team so we don't even think like that.'' Albert Steede: a star for Stars.