STEVE Bruce is keen to see Hull City's pre-season campaign stepped up a gear when facing Sheffield Wednesday in Portugal tonight.
Four days after landing in the Algarve for a demanding training camp, the Tigers can expect their first real test of pre-season against Dave Jones' Owls at the Estadio Municipal De Albufeira.
Routine victories over North Ferriby and Winterton were completed on Monday night, but Bruce sees the next four weeks as a vital platform for his side's preparations.
As well as the fixtures with Sheffield Wednesday and SC Braga in Portugal, City face further examinations against Championship sides Birmingham and Peterborough before rounding off their build-up by challenging Dynamo Dresden and Real Betis in the final fortnight of pre-season.
Although impressed by the application of his squad so far in Portugal, Bruce is asking for more.
He said: "I've done a presentation with all the players to show how much ground they've each covered and the intensity it's been at out here. We've worked them very hard.
"It's all about getting them in the right frame of mind building up to the first game. Of course, you want the right results, but these pre-season games will stand us in good stead.
"I purposely made this pre-season difficult because of the tough season ahead.
"Sheffield Wednesday will be a good work out. They're two weeks ahead of us in their preparations.
"Then it's Braga on Tuesday and hopefully the two games out here will make everyone get some time under their belts against strong opposition."
Of the 24 players on camp, only Maynor Figueroa has been ruled out of featuring against the Owls this evening.
The Honduran, who signed on a free transfer this summer, is being treated with caution following groin surgery at the end of last season.
Robbie Brady will also be assessed this morning after being troubled by blisters. Bruce added: "We'll have to see how Robbie Brady is. He's got very bad blisters from the North Ferriby game on Monday and we've had to limit what he's done here."
