Jury duty

Hi folks,

I need some help on something.

I have been summoned to attend jury duty at the beginning of next month and received a letter in the post giving me the date and time in my local courthouse.

I would be very interested in attending, however, the day is a Tuesday and I will be leaving the country for 4 days from that Thursday, and then will be back available from the following Monday onwards. The letter is to be completed and returned stating whether I am qualified to attend or if I wish to be excused. Do I state that I am qualified and wish to attend, hoping that if I am selected that the case will not take place during those dates I am unavailable or do I state I am unavailable from the offset?

Of course I would like to attend and have already notified work but I am slightly worried that I could be selected and would need to be back in court on one of those days I am unavailable.

Could someone advise what the best course of action would be,

Many thanks