Nottinghamshire players return to Trent Bridge next week for pre-season fitness tests as they step up preparations for the 2008 season.

While players have already been taking part in regular training sessions in Nottingham or closer to their homes, the tests will enable Director of Cricket Mick Newell to assess fitness levels and check for any niggling injuries.

He said: “You have a change in emphasis in what’s being done before and after Christmas with the fitness programmes.

“While a few of the players are abroad playing club cricket, most of the squad will be there for monitoring. We’ll be able to make sure there’s no underlying injury problems and set them up with new programmes to follow ahead of pre-season.”