Hogan Ephraim can't wait for the new season to get underway following the fixtures release this week, and believes the early set of away games provides QPR with the ideal opportunity to "lay down a marker" for the campaign.

The 21-year-old is currently enjoying the last two weeks of the close season before the hard work begins on 1st July, and he told www.qpr.co.uk: "Personally, one of the first matches I looked for was Newcastle away.

"It's on a Wednesday night, so under the floodlights it should be pretty special.

"I've never played there before but I've been told that it's an incredible place, and their fans are something else.

"But we can't just be up for the big games like that, we've got to go into every match with the right attitude - regardless of the opposition.

"When I first saw the fixtures, I have to say I was stunned by how much travelling we've got in those first couple of weeks.

"Having said that, there's an opportunity for us to make a good start.

"Obviously every game is going to be tough, but we've got to approach them with confidence.

"The opening game at Loftus Road should have a great atmosphere with Ian Holloway coming back with Blackpool.

"He had a great affiliation with QPR and the fans obviously have a lot of time for him, so that should all add to the occasion."

Following the opening tie against the Seasiders, the R's travel to Exeter in the Carling Cup, before away matches in the league at Plymouth and Bristol City.

"That's going to be difficult," conceded Ephraim, "but we've got to see it as an early chance to put things right.

"Quite frankly, our away form last year was terrible.

"We know that cost us, so if we can get some good results on our travels in the opening four or six weeks, it would be great.

"It would lay down a marker about what we want to achieve."

The new campaign should see Rowan Vine, Akos Buzsaky and Patrick Agyemang all fit, with Martin Rowlands not too far behind.

Having missed their quality for much of the 2008/09 campaign, Ephraim believes their input this season could prove crucial.

"Defensively we were very strong last year but it was in attack where we struggled," he added.

"As midfielders and forwards, we have to take responsibility for that.

"At Preston on the last day of the season you could see how well Rowan and Pat were linking up.

"It just highlighted how much we missed them."

"With them all back, we've got to be confident about what we're capable of."