how to select elements based on optional container ar

XSLT 1.0 is a constraint.

I'm having trouble with a select expression to
select the marked elements (<!--X-->) in the following XML:

<container
select="2">
  <item>...</item><!--X-->
  <item>...</item><!--X-->
<item>...</item>

</container>
<container>

  <item>...</item><!--X-->
<item>...</item><!--X-->


  <item>...</item><!--X-->


</container>
<container select="1">

  <item>...</item><!--X-->
  <item>...</item>
<item>...</item>

  <item>...</item>

</container>

In the case of a no select
attribute all items in the container should be in the node set.
If there is a
attribute select="n", only the first "n" items should be in the node set.
The
expression needs to work across all containers.

There is the additional
constraint that only items with parent container are to be selected.


Where
could I start to look for code examples that solves a similar problem?

Thanks
in advance for your help.
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