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WEDNESDAY are making changes to pre-season training as part of their bid to maintain last season's Championship progress.
The club have closely analysed last season and identified strengths and weaknesses in their matchplay.
So, compared to the pre-season programme of a year ago, the current one will be slightly different as the Owls study every possible way of improving their game and keeping up their climb up the table.
"We are changing a lot of the aspects of training to accommodate what we want next season," confirmed Brian Laws.
"We have worked hard over the summer, looking at all our strengths and weaknesses and the areas we need to work on, and that is being reflected in the training that the players are undergoing."
The changes apply both to fitness preparation and tactics.
Laws does not want to give too much away but adds: "We are wanting to increase the number of balls that we play into the 18-yard box once we have got into the last third of the field.
"That will be incorporated into training sessions, and that is a little example.
"Another is that we are working on longer-distance running to increase stamina levels.
"We always looked a fit side last season - but I want us to work at a certain level for 90 minutes.
"There are big clubs in this division who have greater resources than us.
"We might not be able to affect that, but what we can affect is how hard we work. We need to make sure our fitness work is unbeatable."
The squad will, of course, be undergoing a whole range of fitness and technical action in the build-up to the August 8 kick-off.
Laws and his staff have been pleased with the spring in the players' step in the first few days of pre-season training.
The Owls boss said: "There is a really good feel around the place.
"There is good camaraderie and the players are looking forward to training and the start of the season."
The squad has been swelled by new signings Darren Purse and Tommy Miller plus trialist Ryan France.
Wednesday rose to 12th in the Championship last season and are looking for a top-six challenge this time.
The Sheffield derby at Bramall Lane on September 19 has been switched to Friday, September 18, kick-off 7.45pm, for live coverage by Sky.
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Weather for Sheffield
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light snow
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