David Hopkin has pledged to put his players through the pain barrier as they return to training this week.
The United manager and his squad hit Ayr Racecourse this morning for the start of a three-day fitness regime.
And Hopkin says he will use the boot camp to get his men in peak shape.
He told the Ayrshire Post: “This is a vital few days for me.
“It’s important to see who’s been doing the right things over the summer and this will immediately tell me that.
“The racecourse is a fantastic facility which has been made available to us and I’m sure we’re going to get a lot out of these sessions.”
Hopkin has welcomed back only signed players to the initial racecourse camp this week.
Trialists will then join the squad from next week as the boss continues his trawl for new faces, with a goalkeeper and striker remaining top of the shopping list.
“We’ve been very near on a couple, but with football it’s never done until it’s done,” said Hopkin.
He said: “We’ve lost nine players from the squad over the summer and signed only four, so there’s definitely work to be done in that regard.
“But as I keep saying, it’s all about staying patient right now.
“We need to sign the right ones and we will.”
Ayr had sold over 450 season tickets as of this morning ahead of the new campaign.
The club shifted 750 last term.
Commercial manager Graeme Miller said: “The increasing likelihood is that only season ticket holders will gain access to our first games, so never has the need been greater to have your ticket.”
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