PRE-SEASON training begins for the Bulls today as Jimmy Lowes' squad embark on a series of fitness tests.

The University of Salford's human performance laboratory will host the session and each player's physical condition will be assessed.

Bulls strength and conditioning coach Gary Dempsey has links to the academic institute and a number of the club's players are also based in the north-west.

Head of performance and video operations Lance Du'Lac said: "The pre-season schedule has been designed by the coaching staff based on what we feel is needed physically and technically from the players to advance them beyond their current levels.

"This takes into account the results of last year's pre-season and then obviously each individual's performance scores during the past season.

"The players will undergo testing in Salford and at the John Charles Centre for Sport in Leeds, which will give us an indication of where they are at so that individualised programmes can be assigned to them.

"Using these venues for testing will also add a touch of variety to training in what is usually a very intense period of the year, both physically and mentally.

"These programmes will last them right through until after Christmas – and although the initial focus is on physical development, ball work will be introduced as the weeks progress.

"Our physiotherapist, Jo McGilchrist, will also play a key role in pre-season as she rehabs the players who are coming back from surgery and help to monitor the squad's training loads."

This is particularly important with the club's international players – Oscar Thomas, Danny Addy, Dale Ferguson, James Mendeika, Jean-Philippe Baile and Dan Fleming – who have been playing in the European Championships and will therefore require a staggered introduction to pre-season training.

Du'Lac explained: "This pre-season is vitally important to the squad and staff as it is the first stage of a structured process that will take us a step further than what we achieved last season.

"We have dissected our performances in the Qualifiers and the performances of every other team that competed against us and from this information we believe there is enough room for improvement in our current squad to achieve our, and our fans', goals for the forthcoming season. That journey will step up a gear today."

Head coach Lowes remains committed to England as Steve McNamara's assistant for the New Zealand Test series but will also be in close contact with his backroom team at the Bulls.

Du'Lac said: "Jimmy is in daily contact with us while he is away with England and as soon as the final Test is over, he will be back with us straight away.

"But his role at England is massively beneficial to all of us at the Bulls due to the opportunities it presents him to advance his knowledge in that elite environment, working alongside Steve Mac and all the players in very intense games."