Blackburn Rovers' Lead Sports Scientist has lifted the lid on their pre-season preparations out in Austria.

Rovers are spending the week in warm-weather conditions as they step up their fitness work ahead of the Championship season. It's 24 days until they host Derby County on August 9.

After two pre-season friendlies, the team will now be pushed to their limits in their Austria training base. There will be a range of drills and activities away from just the football pitches to improve strength and conditioning ahead of a gruelling 46-game marathon.

Food and facilities have been a priority when sourcing the right location for Rovers' 29-man squad to set up camp. Karl Hodges explains the importance of this week and what it will entail.

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"It's a massive week. Pre-season is huge overall for our department, we have to get the boys fit and strong," he told RoversTV.

"This week tops it off, to be out here in this lovely weather, some team bonding for the lads. It's been a good trip so far.

"It sounds stupid but food is massive whilst we're out here. As long as the boys are happy with the food, it's important. They will be working hard and they need to refuel. It's a big one.

"We have activities for the boys, facilities, plunge pools, swimming pools where we can do mobility sessions. The lads have a golf day on Wednesday, so we're going out and doing some competitions. 

"There is a team room for pool, darts, anything they can do for fun. We've got some team meals booked out here to all get together as a team to gel.

"The pitches have to be right for the coaches. It's also nice to have some warm weather because Blackburn is freezing!"

Rovers will play another friendly with 2.Bundesliga side Nurnberg this weekend before plans switch to the second half of pre-season and domestic games with Morecambe, Wigan Athletic and Stockport County.

Another match hasn't been ruled out on August 3, the Saturday before the season starts. That would probably be at Ewood Park but as the days pass by, it is less likely.

All the planning and preparation from Hodges' side begins months in advance. The key is open communication with the coaching staff to ensure the right balance between work load and tactical work.

"The planning starts in the off-season, as soon as we won at Leicester really," he explained.

"We had meetings with the gaffers in the off-season, that's when it all starts and then you add meat to the bones as the weeks go along. 

"It's about hitting distances, metrics as we go along. It is full-on and we're trying to get them as fit and resilient as possible whilst minimising the risk of injury.

"That's it in a nutshell. How we do that is by linking and liaising with the manager so he gets his tactical aspects but I am getting them to work hard and pushing their limits.

"There's another 60 minutes out here in Austria and then we go into the 90-minute games and we'll push them on to make sure they're ready.

"As long as we win and get through injury-free, that's the big one.
The planning and preparation all gears towards Derby."