ALBION'S players will report back for pre-season training a week today with the message 'The season starts now' ringing in their ears.

Head of sports science Dan Harris is set to put the Baggies troops through their paces in the build up to the Coca-Cola Championship kick-off at home to Newcastle on Saturday, August 8 (ko 3pm).

And Harris, who joined the club last summer, revealed each player's programme this year will be tailored to suit their individual requirements.

"The excitement comes now because we've got a whole new season ahead of us," he said.

"It's important we get preparation for the season right.

"The season starts now really.

"We're a year better off in terms of knowing our players and the way we prepare them.

"When you look at the squad as individuals, they all need different amounts and types of work to get them ready for the season.

"Pre-season this year is going to be more individualised and then it's about taking that group of individuals and moulding them into a team.

"My job is to make sure all the players are ready to peak physically, not just for the first game of the season but for the duration of the 46 league games.

"The football calendar has meant it's been a very short summer and pre-season is only five-and-a-half weeks.

"There will be some screening and testing on day one and then we launch head long into the nuts and bolts of pre-season."

The Baggies jet off to Slovenia for a week to continue their preparations following their opening clash wiith Blue Square Premier outfit Histon.

"The lads have had programmes to follow while they've been away," Harris added.

"But there will always be some boys that need more work than others and some that can probably play a game from day one.

"This is a good group of pros generally.

"They came back in reasonable shape last year and went through a fairly tough pre-season.

"We'll do the foundation work in the UK before our first pre-season game and then we fly out to Slovenia."