Brentford return to pre-season training tomorrow (Friday) and Dean Smith is keen to ensure the squad have an even better understanding of what he and assistant Richard O'Kelly want from them.
The Bees finished ninth in the Championship last season after a strong end to the campaign and the fans are looking to start where they left off when they travel to Huddersfield on August 6.
Smith has spoken previously of trying to produce tactical flexibility when it comes to formations.
While this will be one area he will work on, he also wants the squad to understand the style of play the management want them to produce.
He said: “(Formations are) something we'll be looking at. We'll look at a few different systems.
“They'll have more of an understanding of what myself and Richard will be after.
“The majority of the work will get done in pre-season and the rest of the season will be more about maintenance and fine-tuning.”
Smith believes pre-season is vitally important for Brentford and he will be speaking with the coaches about how best to conduct the programme.
He added: “I think pre-season is very important to any club as you're preparing for what is a marathon.
“It's a long season to try and finish in the top two. Pre-season is important to everybody. I've done plenty as a player and plenty as a manager and head coach.
“I've got experience and ideas about what is needed but I'm not naïve enough to not sit down with people who have worked with pre-seasons here before and listened to their ideas and come out with a plan of the best way to go forward.”
Brentford begin their pre-season programme with a trip to Boreham Wood on July 8.
