Trouble with 'FindByValue' ..

Hi my first post and sorry its a question ...

I have a databound DropDownList which i need c# code to check the selected value is there or not.

ASP Code:
                                         SelectCommand="SELECT [CountryId], [CountryName] FROM [Countries] WHERE ([Active] = @Active2) ORDER BY [CountryName]">
                                           
                                           
                                       
                                   
                                        DataTextField="CountryName" DataValueField="CountryId" AppendDataBoundItems="True" OnDataBinding="countriesDropDownList_SelectedIndexChanged">
                                        Please Select
                                   

C# Code:
string BillCountryId = reader["BillCountryId"].ToString();

                    TextBox1.Text = BillCountryId;

                    ListItem li = countriesDropDownList.Items.FindByValue(BillCountryId);
                    if (li != null)
                     countriesDropDownList.SelectedValue = BillCountryId;

Problem is, its not finding any values which have been DataBound, only the (-1) of the 'Please Select' value.  The C# Code is in the Page_Load void ..

Please help! :)