JUNIOR Hoilett says he is looking forward to the first game of the season even more than he usually does because he is eager to show the QPR fans what he is capable of.
Hoilett, 22, signed a four-year deal with the R's last month following the completion of his contract at Blackburn, and he told www.qpr.co.uk that our Premier League curtain raiser against Swansea at Loftus Road can't come soon enough.
"Everyone is looking forward to that first game and I am probably looking forward to it more than normal because I am at a new Club and this is a new start for me," he said from the R's training camp in southern Germany.
"It will be great to get out in front of the fans and show them what I can do. It's an important game for me and for the Club."
Hoilett made his debut in the blue and white hoops on Saturday, playing the first half in our 1-1 draw against Trabzonspor at Stadium SV Lohhof in Unterschleissheim, just outside Munich.
"It was good to get 45 minutes under the belt," he added. "I haven't played in a while so it was good to have a run-out and play with the team because you get to understand how the others play.
"Obviously I have been training with the guys but you can learn much more by playing with them in a competitive fixture like that one."
Rangers came from behind to draw the game and, in doing so, maintained their unbeaten record in pre-season.
"We passed the ball well, we defended well as a team and I thought we stayed compact as a unit," Hoilett said. "These matches will set us up nicely going into that first game of the season."
There were some heavy challenges on show throughout the game, with Hoilett himself the victim of one particularly late tackle which left him requiring treatment for several minutes.
"I'm alright," he laughed. "It happens. It was a good test because Trabzonspor are a good team who pass the ball well so it was a useful fixture."
There is now just one friendly remaining before Michael Laudrup's Swans arrive in W12, and Hoilett admitted: "I am pleased we have another match before the season starts, it well help me to get ready for that opening game."
Rangers take on Bundesliga side FC Augsburg at the SGL Arena in Augsburg on Saturday. The match kicks off at 4pm local time (3pm GMT).