Burton Albion are already seeing the benefits of their tough pre-season regime and reporting back for action in a good state.
The Brewers are two matches into a 10-game run of friendlies before their opening-day Championship clash with Cardiff City on August 5.
A 5-0 win at Kidsgrove Athletic and a 4-0 victory over Mickleover Sports in the past week have shown Albion's squad are making a quick return to the fitness levels they showed throughout an unrelenting campaign in 2016/17.
That will be important again this term - and testing and pushing energy levels is one of the most important factors of pre-season preparations.
After 180 minutes of action, the Brewers have also avoided picking up any fresh injuries so far, with Jake Buxton and Marvin Sordell the only absentees due to pre-existing problems.
Nigel Clough believes that fact is testament to the way his players have approached pre-season - and he wants the side to build from here as they look to be in optimum shape come the start of August.
"We have to be (fit), but that is just the foundation," said the Albion manager.
"That two weeks they've done is just the foundation for taking it on.
"We'll be doing more games now and more shorter stuff in the next three weeks, just to sharpen up for the season.
"But that just gives you the base.
"I don't think, in 18 years, we've ever been where we've got through two weeks without an injury.
"I don't want to jinx it, but the two injuries we've got are pre-existing with Marvin and Jake.
"For everybody to come through the first two games and the first two weeks has been incredible.
"That is great testament to how they've come back - they've come back in great shape.
"So to get through and for everybody to get that base (is great). Usually somebody misses a couple of days with a niggle or something like that, but we've not even had that.
"That's wonderful, and it gives them a good platform now to kick on in the next few weeks."
As for Sordell and Buxton - who both missed the Kidsgrove and Mickleover games with minor injuries - they could both be back in a Brewers shirt by the weekend, with Sordell looking to return for Tuesday's trip to Solihull Moors (7.30pm).
"Marvin is going to train on Monday with a view to playing a little bit on Tuesday at Solihull," added Clough.
"And Jake, we are probably looking at a week's time - maybe at Matlock Town."
