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Twelve hard sessions and six games later and we are hopefully ready for the first big test of the new season.

We are certainly fit enough, that's for sure, so we just have to hope that we perform and get through to the next stage of a cup competition since we first entered the Scottish Football League.

Defeats by , (on penalties) and knocked us out of all cup competitions at the first hurdle last year.

So, while the trip to face Inverness might not be marked down as an away win on many coupons, we have a real chance to show Queen's Park that they could be in for a tough season in Division Three.

It's just a shame the match isn't at Hampden, but that time will come.

The weekend saw us host our annual tournament when Newcastle Benfield, Dumbarton, Queen of the South and their supporters descended on Galabank.

In all honesty, it was a bit up and down for ourselves as we finished third when we should really have been facing our near rivals in the final.

A narrow 1-0 defeat by our English friends was followed up by a penalty shoot-out victory against Dumbarton.

Unfortunately, due to work commitments I was unavailable for the Sunday, meaning I don't know too much about the performance.

But, while we were disappointed to lose some poor goals over the weekend we should be taking positives from coming back from 3-1 down to defeat Dumbarton.

Another pleasing aspect throughout pre-season is how easily the new boys have all gelled with the players on and off the park.

Most of the boys have had a weekend away together, which helped them get to know each other and this has shown in their encouraging performances in the games.

The manager never allowed the boys a beer on that trip but, hopefully, we'll get the chance to have a quiet few this weekend at Lee Hoolikin's engagement party!

The club made one further signing this week when returned to the club after being released by Kilmarnock.

Scott scored a couple of goals while on loan with us last season and is another good addition by Harry and Degsy that will further enhance the squad.

I was writing the names of all our players the other day and I really don't envy Harry trying to whittle them down to 16 for his first squad of the season.

There will be some very disappointed men in that dressing room come Saturday afternoon.

I might need to kick a few on Thursday night at training to make sure I'm not one of them.

Talking of disappointed players, just how disappointed must be right now?

Not only does his club want to swap him with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but they also want to part with £38m to make sure it happens.

If there are any regular readers of my column out there then you may know that I'm not Zlatan's biggest fan but this deal, in my opinion, is just so hard to believe.

I think the self-proclaimed Special One might just be telling Mr Moratti to bite Mr Laporta's hands off - or words to that effect.