SCOTT Parker is pleased with how Cherries' pre-season preparations have begun, but says he will be "cranking it up" for the players in Portugal this week.

Cherries returned for a day of physical testing on June 25, before hitting the training pitches.

They today fly out to Portugal for a 10-day training camp, which will include behind-closed-doors training fixtures against Sheffield Wednesday and Braga.

Cherries then return to England to host Bristol City (July 23) and Real Sociedad (July 30), before marking their Premier League return by welcoming Aston Villa to Vitality Stadium on August 6.

Discussing the early stages of pre-season, boss Parker told Cherries' website: "It has gone really well. The boys came back in a very good place but I wouldn’t have expected anything different from them.

“A lot of them have been with us for a season and they are a good bunch of lads. They have looked after themselves well and I also wanted them to have some real downtime, relax and chill a bit.

“I see a fresh bunch and a group that wants to work hard and get stronger.

“The first 10 days of pre-season are always tricky because you’ve had such a long time out so you are balancing keeping players fit while also putting good work into them.

“We will start cranking it up even more in Portugal and what we’ve been doing will be more intense.

“I’m pleased with the way the players have started pre-season. When you’re planning, you want to try to get a real balance in terms of it being competitive and us being able to get in some good work.”

Looking ahead to the friendlies later this month, Parker added: "Bristol City will be a very tough game.

"Physically, they are a good side so that will be a challenge, as we found last season at times. It will give us an indication of where we will be at that moment in time.

“Real Sociedad will be a good, technical team who will want to dominate the ball and, at times, we may have to suffer a little bit.

“But leading into the season we’re going into, it’s a good gauge for us in terms of the level and the quality we are going to be up against so it will be another good test for us.”