Hull manager Phil Brown will prepare his players for their Barclays Premier League debut in the same way as they got ready for their successful promotion season from the Coca-Cola Championship.

Brown's side face an opening day fixture at home to Fulham and also welcome champions Manchester United to the KC Stadium on the final day of the campaign on May 24 2009.

The Tigers, who beat Bristol City 1-0 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley to seal promotion, will travel to Italy for a pre-season training campaign at the ski resort of Bormio.

They will take part in a varied series of pre-season fixtures including an away game against Clydesdale Bank Premier League side Hearts before their final pre-season match at home to Spanish side Osasuna.

"I think we will prepare in the same way as we did last year," Brown told Sky Sports News. "We're taking the boys to a training camp so the preparation will be pretty similar. I'm trying to improve the ranks in terms of the quality of the squad."

Brown alluded to the pressure he will be under to keep Hull in the Premier League when he looked at the final day fixture at home to champions United. "It's a great fixture to have on the last day of the season, let's hope I'm still in a job," he said.