Oxford United have added a fixture against Portuguese giants Benfica as their preparations for the new Sky Bet League Two season go up a notch this week.

The U’s return to training this morning for the first time since flying back from their pre-season training camp in Austria on Friday evening.

Having played two friendly matches so far, they now face a pair of outings in the space of 24 hours which will give everyone in the squad a run-out.

United visit Vanarama National League side Woking tomorrow night, but have accepted an invitation from a touring Benfica B side, who play in Portugal’s second tier, at St George's Park, Burton, behind closed doors on Wednesday.

Head coach Michael Appleton says he is looking forward to seeing the squad face two very different challenges as he prepares for the start of the new season, at home to Crawley Town on August 8.

He said: “Woking will be a physical game and a lot more similar to what we’re going to face on the opening day of the season, without a bit more quality that maybe Crawley will have.

“The game the following night is against a team that will be very technical and keep the ball for long periods.

“It’s one we kept on the back-burner because we didn’t know if we were going to have that extra game.

“We’re quite lucky because we didn’t think we’d get the opportunity to organise a game for the players who haven’t had many minutes against a side like Benfica.”

Appleton is very pleased with the way pre-season has gone so far and is confident everything is on track for the opening day of the season.

The only injury to date has been to George Baldock, who rolled his right ankle in last Tuesday’s goalless draw at SC Wiener Neustadt.

The full back returned to training on Friday and should be available to play at Woking, where the U’s are expected to name close to their strongest side.

But the advantage of the double fixture is those players who have had limited game time in the first two games will get an opportunity.

He added: “We’re certainly ready in terms of mentality and organisation.

“Physically we’re nowhere near it yet, I’d be amazed if they are.

“I’m not a strength and conditioning coach but I think they’ve got it a tad wrong if they’re ready now.

“We have got just under three weeks, so there’s plenty of time to fine tune the physical side of it.”