Pars ready to turn up the Gaz

"Training is great but it is in games that you get match sharpness ...

Training facilities at Obertraun

Despite the SPL season not coming quick enough for him, Gary Mason cannot believe how quick the close season has gone. Now in Austria as part of the team's pre season schedule he is delighted that has brought two competitive games against FK Mlad? Boleslav and Rapid Bucharest. The 31 year old midfielder commented:-

"Training is great but it is in games that you get match sharpness. The games against the Czechs and Romanians will be hard but ideal preparation."

The player who has experienced both relegation and promotion with the Pars said "winning promotion was never easy" but he always felt that Dunfermline could get back into the SPL:-

"It is a big club and that's where it should be. You could see that with the performances last season. The First Division is a difficult league to get out of and you have to be consistent throughout the season to win promotion. Now we can build on that."

Gary has a clear vision of what is required in the top flight since as well as previous experience there with Dunfermline, he played for two seasons while at St Mirren and had a brief encounter of SPL life at Hamilton Accies. 'Mase' returned to the Pars in February 2010 and now his previous SPL experience can be applied as Jim McIntyre's side try to make their mark:-

"There are a few experienced boys in the team who have been there but we have the right mixture in the team with youth and young boys through to the older ones. There is a good blend and we are hoping to sustain our place in the league.

Gary Mason was Player of the Year 2010-11

"We have played Premier League teams in the cup and have proved then that they are more than capable of handling it. Obviously when you do get a taste of that you want more of it. Everyone will say that but this is a good opportunity for us to do that. I am really looking forward to it and I am sure everyone else will be the same."