SIRIKI Dembele insists "match fitness" is the main focus for Cherries from their upcoming pre-season training matches in Portugal.

Scott Parker's side are set to take on League One outfit Sheffield Wednesday today (5.30pm), before facing Portuguese top-flight side Braga on Tuesday.

They are the first matches Cherries face this summer, although they are described as "training exercises", being played behind closed doors.

Asked what the team will look to get out of their contest with Sheffield Wednesday, Dembele told the Daily Echo: "Trying to obviously get match fitness from it.

"Pre-season games are always to get fit and to work on things that we’re going to try to do in the season.

"That’s all it’s about really. It’s not about anything else but that."

Cherries return to England next week, before hosting Bristol City in a friendly at Vitality Stadium on July 23.

A fixture against Real Sociedad is then pencilled in the following Saturday, before the Premier League campaign begins against Aston Villa on August 6.