This evening the R's travel to Kilmarnock for their final pre-season friendly in Scotland.

Following the 2-0 loss at Falkirk on Saturday afternoon, Iain Dowie's men are keen to avenge that with a victory tonight.

Gavin Mahon, who has featured prominently throughout the pre-season, told www.qpr.co.uk: "It would be nice to bounce back from that defeat with a win this evening.

"One of the main points of these friendlies is to come up against different types of systems, and learn to cope with them.

"Falkirk caused us a few problems at the weekend, and it is useful to have matches like that, because you learn from them."

Mahon, 31, has been impressed by the organisation Dowie has brought to the squad, and has noticed some similarities in his approach with Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd, who guided the Hornets to the Premiership in 2006.

"The gaffer is a hard task master, there's no doubt about that," added Mahon, who was Boothroyd's midfield general when the Vicarage Road outfit won promotion. "He is similar in his approach to Aidy; the footballs are out early and the sessions you do are all very tough, and everything is timed.

"It has been great for me. I have never in my career been as fit as I have been over the last couple of years at the start of a season, and Iain Dowie has continued that with his approach to pre-season.

"Often at clubs you do a lot of running for the first couple of weeks before any ball work, but the gaffer mixes that up well, right from the off.

"That's something I think he is brilliant at, mixing up the training and getting everyone super fit. And, this might sound crazy, but it has been enjoyable as well, because what we've been doing has been good fun, as well as hard work.

"The team spirit has really benefitted from his presence, too. You can have a good laugh with him, and he is quite laid back, which is great."

And the spirit in the camp will need to be strong if the players are to cope with the incredible expectancy which surrounds the Club since the involvement of Flavio Briatore, Bernie Ecclestone and Lakshmi Mittal.

"That's going to be a big thing for us this season," said Mahon. "We've got to make sure we can handle that side of it because, with the financial backing the Club has now got, we are expected to do well.

"It's not going to be as easy as some people might think. A lot of Championship sides have really strengthened over the summer, so it will be tough.

"Having said that, we've got a very good squad here. I think the gaffer is keen to add a couple more faces, which we need, and if he can do that then we can do well this season.

"We'll be expected to win week in, week out, and that's exactly what we will be trying to do."

Looking beyond this evening's match at Rugby Park, Mahon is looking forward to Saturday's home game against Serie A outfit Chievo.

Dowie has made it clear that he will be starting what he feels is his strongest side against the Italians, and Mahon admitted: "Everyone will want to impress in that match.

"The gaffer wants us to play at a high tempo, and against Chievo it will be a good test, because I am sure they will work the ball well.

"It is going to be up to us to keep our shape. We've got to work hard for each other in every match we play, and I actually think it will be a great game against Chievo, I really do."

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