Former-QPR star Martin Rowlands has said the players will be excited as they prepare to begin their pre-season preparations.

Following a series of tests at Harlington on Friday, the squad jet off to Portugal today for a week-long training camp which will see them train three times per day and put an emphasis on fitness and conditioning.

Despite the gruelling regime which Ian Holloway will have in store for them, Rowlands says the players will be looking forward to what the week has in store.

Speaking to Get West London at the club's 2017-18 kit launch, Rowlands said: "They'll be glad the weather's not as hot as it was before!

"It's exciting, you have six to eight weeks off and you come back and you know it's going to be hard work, but it's exciting to be back in with the boys.

"Hopefully there'll be some new players signing, and you just look forward to working and getting ready for the season."

It's no secret that last season was a huge disappointment for everyone involved with Queens Park Rangers, but the former Republic of Ireland international, who Holloway brought to Loftus Road from Brentford in 2003, says that the squad must remain positive.

He said: "You've got to have a positive outlook. Last season for fairly up and down, and it wasn't a very good season.

"But wilth Ollie in from the start hopefully we can have a good solid start to the season, and hopefully have a good push for the play-offs.

"The club's getting itself on a more stable footing in the way it's being run so hopefully we can get ourselves a good solid start and push ourselves up the league."