Michael Kightly is expecting the same benefit to team spirit from this week's pre-season tour of Scotland as experienced in Ireland this time last year.

Only with even sterner tests on the field from Dundee, Motherwell and Kilmarnock.

Kights's first pre-season tour as a Wolves player came across the Irish Sea last summer when the squad were based at Portmarnock Hotel and took on League of Ireland sides Bray and Bohemians.

He recalls it as a valuable week spent helping the squad develop into an even tighter unit, and expects more of the same north of the border.

"Ireland last year really did bring the team together," says Kights.

"It helps the new players as well, they can come in and get to know everyone a bit better and vice versa.

"That's a good thing, and then we've also got three tough games against teams who will be right up for it and will want to turn us over.

"That will be good contests for us which is just what we need leading up to the new season.

"The teams in Ireland gave us a good test and with no disrespect to them the teams in Scotland will be that bit better with more quality.

"They're going to want to win the games but that's good for us because it makes them not so much like friendlies but more like the real thing."

The four summer signings - Sam Vokes, Richard Stearman, David Jones and Chris Iwelumo - are all part of the group flying up to Scotland today as is trialist Ian Harte.

And Kights believes living in each other's pockets for a week definitely benefits team spirit when it comes to new arrivals.

"It just helps the new lads when we're all spending a week together," he says.

"In training normally you do your work, have a bite to eat and then you're off home.

"When you're with each other for a week it just helps.

"They all seem like great lads anyway but this will help them settle in."