Just one week into a very gruelling pre season fitness schedule, First Team Coach Paul Trollope has expressed his delight with the way things are shaping up.

"We started our pre season training schedule last Thursday and things have gone very, very well," the boss told bristolrovers.co.uk

"Fitness levels are very good and most players have improved compared to the same time last season. The quality of the ball work we've done has been very pleasing and there's a good work ethic about the players. There's also a very good attitude and a lot of enthusiasm, which I like, so we are looking to progress through Friday and into Monday and Tuesday before our first pre season friendly.

"Everyone is looking forward to the first few games and we'll be pleased to get that first one, at Weymouth, under our belt."

Results, it should be said, are not the be all and end all when it comes down to pre season friendly fixtures, but there are certain things that Paul will be looking for in those games.

"You can never judge how your season will turn out by looking at pre season friendly results. Two years ago, for example, we enjoyed a fantastic pre season and lost 4-1 in our first league game, at Peterborough.

"I've played in teams where you don't do so well in friendly fixtures, and yet start the league season on fire, so you can't read too much into the results. However you are looking for performances, for the lads to have a winning mentality and for them to do the right things.

"You are also, obviously, looking for everyone to get match fit and that might mean chopping and changing a little bit and giving players half a game, or sixty minutes, and then building it slowly so that they can cope with the rigours of a full game.

"That said, we aren't looking to peak in the first league game of the season. That's not been our philosophy. We want to be ready, but we want to make sure we have enough in the tank to see us through the season.

"At the end of last season, the games came a little bit too thick and fast for us and we couldn't cope, which was in contrast to the previous year, so that's something we'll be looking.

"The important thing in the short term, though, is that the players have come through the first week fine, fitness levels are good, and we are looking forward to the first game."

The new additions to the squad appear to have settled in well.