East Kilbride players started their pre-season training this past week and Mick Kennedy鈥檚 men will be thrown straight into a tough test this weekend. The Lowland League champions and newly-promoted League Two side welcome Neil Lennon鈥檚 Dunfermline Athletic to K-Park for their first pre-season friendly on Saturday afternoon, ahead of a clash behind closed doors against Premiership side Hearts. Kilby are being thrown in at the deep end, but Kennedy insists it is required ahead opening competitive action at home to championship side St Johnstone on July 12 in the Premier Sports League Cup. On Saturday鈥檚 test, which is a 3pm kick-off, the Kilby gaffer said: 鈥淚t will be the first pre-season friendly for both of us so it will be interesting. I believe Dunfermline have been away for a warm weather training camp so I am sure they will be well-prepared. 鈥淭o be fair to our boys, they鈥檝e come back in great shape so it will be a good test. It is about trying to bed the new boys in, in terms of our philosophy because it will be different to what they are used to. 鈥淒unfermline and Hearts are difficult games to bed them in, to be honest, but it is a good environment for them to test themselves. 鈥淣eil is trying to build a new team and at the early stages of rebuilding so we鈥檒l be interested to see what kind of team he plays. I imagine what team he plays on Saturday and what team starts the season for them will be very different. 鈥淎 full-time and Championship club coming here is a great test. We wanted to play against top opposition to prepare us for the League Cup. 鈥淭he Hearts game has been sorted, but it is behind closed doors so there will be no fans. That game will be a tough one for the boys.鈥