So far, so good.

Graham Potter likes the look and feel of the squad he has inherited at Albion.

He is also comfortable with the stage the Seagulls have reached in adding to the group guided narrowly to safety second time around by Chris Hughton.

Austria has become home from home to Albion in their pre-season preparations for the Premier League.

The Argus: They were based in their first year in Leogang for an encouraging debut campaign back in the top flight of English football.

Last year it was Schruns. They have beaten Southampton - undoubtedly one of their finishing position rivals again - to it in that sense.

Saints are there this year under their Austrian leader Ralph Hasenhuttl.

Albion's central location this time featured in the filming of 'Where Eagles Dare'.

Crystal Palace are in neighbouring Switzerland. Albion owner-chairman Tony Bloom has already dared with the forward-thinking appointment of Potter, a bright young coach.

He inherited the latest Austrian schedule from Hughton. Only the second week he has been with the players since they reported back from the summer break was interrupted on a personal level to fly home for his mother's funeral.

That is difficult for anybody in any circumstances, but in his professional life Potter is getting a lot out of the trip.

He said: "It's been good. We had a good travel day on Sunday and then the boys trained well on Monday, first day settling in.

"We had a big day on Tuesday, a big session, went out for a meal, some singing and Karaoke, so that was good for the lads just to enjoy each other's company.

"It's a really important part of the season for that and they have been out doing some team activities today and then back on the training pitch."

The first week's training took place back at Lancing after fitness and medical testing.

What does Potter make of what he has seen now that he is working with the players?

"Pretty much what I saw back home," he said. "Fundamentally a good group. They all want to play - you can sense that. The process now is to understand them all as best we can as quickly as we can.

"There's been a bit of movement over the last couple of windows, some players coming in, and sometimes you need that process to run through.

"We are trying to properly assess the group, but it's been really positive. They work really well, try their best every day.

"They are an honest bunch of lads and I really enjoy working with them."

There is a lot to take on board, fresh ideas for the players to embrace from a coach who is not afraid to throw in curve balls - role changes, different formations.

"The feedback has been positive," Potter said. "Their application in training has been really good. We will get into things more and more as the week goes on."

The Argus: Albion's transfer activity to date reflects what has generally been a relatively quiet summer window to this juncture in the Premier League, winger Leandro Trossard from Genk (above) in Belgium and Portsmouth central defender Matt Clarke.

It will gather pace - it always does - in the four weeks that remain.

Potter said: "Maybe things go a bit later, who knows? We can just focus on us. The main thing for me is to understand the group that we've got here as quickly and as well as we can.

"In any window you are always aware of what's happening and then looking to strengthen if you can with the right people to help the group.

"There is a possibility I think. You have always got to be looking to strengthen, that's what the window is there for up to the very end of the window.

"From a coaching perspective it's better to have players in the sooner the better, because of course then you can work with them for longer.

"We have to assess the group we have and find the right player, the right person, to come into the group.

"It's not so easy, because in an ideal world you have a year of work and know the group perfectly. That's not the case, so we have to adapt to that and do our best."

There are lots of choices still to be made, both ins and outs.

What, for example, happens to Tomer Hemed, the Israeli striker who has sat out the trip to continue his recovery from groin surgery following a season on loan at Queens Park Rangers?

Potter said: "Of course you have to make decisions on where people are at and what the right thing is for the group.

"We've got a lot of forwards in terms of numbers. We are having a look at Viktor (Gyokeres) as well, Aaron (Connolly) Jan (Mlakar).

"Sometimes it's looking at the bigger picture and making the right call for the player and for the group, but while the guys are here you want to try to make it as meritocratic as possible. That's how it should be I think."