EWOOD enforcer Garry Flitcroft today told his team-mates 'the hard work starts here' as Rovers prepare to step up their pre-season build-up on the continent.

Flitcroft and the rest of Rovers' first team squad are due to fly out of England on Monday for a two week tour of Austria and Germany.

And the Blackburn skipper believes the trip is vital to the team's pre-season preparations as manager Graeme Souness attempts to galvanise team spirit in readiness for the challenges ahead.

"Two weeks is a long time to be away but we've got a good set of lads here who get on well and this kind of thing is a great team building exercise," said the tough-tackling midfielder.

"When you come back from an experience like that, everyone tends to be a lot closer as a result and that's going to be vital if we want to better what we achieved last season."

Rovers are due to play three games whilst they are away as they gradually build up to full fitness.

Austrian minnows Sport Union Abtenau - who Rovers thrashed 12-0 last year - will provide the opposition in the opening game on Friday July 26.

Then next up are Bundesliga outfit, FC Nurenberg, who Rovers will meet in Weismain on Tuesday July 30.

They will then complete their fixtures against FC Amberg on Saturday, August 3, before heading back to England for two further friendlies with Blackpool and Lazio ahead of the big kick-off on August 17.

"There was a lot of travelling on the tour last year but I think the format has changed quite a bit this time around and Austria, in particular, should be good," said Flitcroft.

"We've got three decent games organised over there so it's all about getting our fitness levels together.

"The first game (against Abtenau) should be an easy run-out, then over the next two games it's a case of building things up after that.

"But results are irrelevant at this time of year - it's all about giving everyone a taste of competitive action."

Manager Souness will take the vast majority of his first team squad to Austria, with the only major absentees likely to be Brad Friedel and Tugay who have both been given extra time off following their exertions in the World Cup.

However, Hakan Unsal is now set to link up with the touring party after making impressive progress in his recovery from a minor knee operation.

And Damien Duff will also be on board despite the fact he only returned to training on Thursday.