Cautious Kyle Lightbourne is hoping for a winning start as the Hogges season begins this weekend with a doubleheader in Baltimore.
Lightbourne has remodelled his squad in the close season - part by design, part by necessity.
The inventive Kwame Steede, industrious striker Ralph Bean, solid centre back Kofi Dill and utility man Jelani Scott have been lost to work commitments.
Big striker John Barry Nusum has transferred to Friday's opponents Crystal Palace Baltimore and the creative Keishen Bean is back at college in Canada.
But a bevy of new recruits including former Trinidad international Marlon Rojas - who trained with his Hogges teammates this week - have been added to the mix.
And the energy and enthusiasm from the new-look squad was running high during a lively training sessions at the new BFA Field in Devonshire on Monday.
Antoine Russell brings youth and pace to the forward line, Jamie Smith and Keston Lewis add another dimension in front of goal and Tokia Russell will bring class and composure anywhere in defence or as a holding midfielder.
Rojas, 29, whose signing will not be completed in time for him to compete this weekend played 23 times for the Soca Warriors and will be pulling the strings for the Hogges in central midfield. Dandy Town striker Raymond Beach and Boulevard's Chae Simmons should also be added to the squad before the season starts.
"It remains to be seen how much of a difference losing those players will make," said Lightbourne, of the six that have moved on.
"The main thing is to see improvement from last season. I'm just hoping we can get off to a better start," added the coach, who refused to indulge in any pre-season chest beating about his side's propsects.
"In the past we have been able to compete at times but we are looking for more consistency."
Lightbourne said pre-season had not been ideal with the short time gap between the end of the domestic season and the beginning of the United Soccer League calendar proving a thorn in the side of his preparations once again.
"It's a difficult time for us with the domestic season just ending. It seems to take a couple of weeks to adjust to USL football and we would have liked the players to have at least three full games at a higher level under their belts before the opening game.
"We don't have that luxury in Bermuda but we know what we are dealing with after two years in this division and hopefully the players can rise to the challenge."
Bermuda begin their campaign on Friday against Crystal Palace Baltimore and continue on Saturday against Real Maryland.
After those two away fixtures they have a streak of five home games at the National Sports Centre.
"We want to get a couple of results under our belts and build momentum coming into that run of home games," added Lightbourne.
"We need to get the crowds out and the people behind us."
With Stevie Astwood set to convert to a midfield role, Keith Jennings returning to the squad along with Sammy De Graff and the addition of the experienced Rojas, Lightbourne believes there will be plenty of competition for places, particularly in midfield.
