Danny Gabbidon is feeling strong in body and mind ahead of the new Barclays Premier League campaign.
The Wales international hopes to put four years of frustration behind him this season, looking back to his best this summer as West Ham United have secured four wins from four so far.
Gabbidon's latest outing saw him help the Hammers keep their third clean sheet in succession in defeating League One MK Dons 2-0 at stadium:mk on Wednesday evening.
There, the 30-year-old partnered returning England international Matthew Upson during the opening 45 minutes, helping his side to shackle compatriot Jermaine Easter and the lively Sam Baldock.
Following the victories at Peterborough United and over VfL Borussia Monchengladbach and Panathinaikos during a successful training camp in Germany, the 2005/06 Hammer of the Year believes things are coming together nicely ahead of the big kick-off at Aston Villa on 14 August.
"Another game, another win," he said. "It was good, another good work-out as well. We had a good trip to Germany last week and another couple of wins. We have come back and it is a little bit different to play a League One team, it is a bit more tempo to the game. I thought we played a lot better in the second half, we were a bit sluggish and that. In the second half, we moved the ball a lot quicker and got a couple of goals. It was good to get another win.
"The fitness, they were quite sharp in the first half and played good football. It was a nice place to come and a nice stadium. They are a little bit ahead of us but it was a good test for us and we playe them a coupel of years back as well and I remember they gave us a good game then as well.
"It was a good test and nice to get a couple of goals in the second half and we are on to Saturday's next game."
After enjoying an outstanding first season at the Boleyn Ground, Gabbidon has been struck down by a succession of unfortunate injuries, causing him to total just 47 first-team appearances over the past four years.
Now he is back in action and feeling good, the Cwmbran-born defender is targeting a strong finish to his pre-season preparations and, with strong competition for places in the shape of Upson, Manuel da Costa and James Tomkins, a place in the starting XI at Villa Park.
"I am pleased to get through the games. I have been feeling pretty good. I felt a little bit sluggish at MK Dons but we have trained quite hard the last couple of days. It was good to get another 45 minutes. I am getting stronger and stronger, I had a decent pre-season last season but it was in the season that I had a few little niggles and that. Hopefully I can improve on that this season and my aim is to be fit for the start and then take it from there.
"Ipswich are a Championship team but we know they will be the same as MK Dons. They will look to play good football and it will be a good test. We will recover from this, get some training in on Friday and look to play well and do ourselves justice. If we can continue winning, it is good for the confidence going into the start of the season in two weeks' time."