KENT skipper David Fulton is to lead a five-man party of county players travelling to Australia next week for a six-week, pre-season training camp in Perth.

Fulton will be joined 'Down Under' by his wife Claudine and three-month-old son Freddie for a west-coast trip aimed at improving his overall fitness and that of four other Kent hopefuls.

Left-handed batsman Michael Carberry, who faces a vital 2005 as the man likeliest to replace Ed Smith in the order, and rookie all-rounder Matthew Dennington are the two Kent staff members making the trip.

The club have also agreed to assist 18-year-old Kent Academy graduate Johann Malcolm, an off-spinning all-rounder from Beckenham, and Whitstable Cricket Club seamer James Thompson, aged 20.

Thompson, formerly with Hartley Cricket Club, is being backed by a Kent League scholarship, but otherwise the county players will be paying for their own flights and much of their upkeep.

Fulton said: "This is a scheme we've been running for a few seasons now but I guess with five of us going this time it just puts it all on a firmer footing.

"Rob Key, Amjad Khan, Alex Loudon and Amjad Khan have all benefited in the past and another five join that list this winter.

"We'll be working with a guy called Neil 'Noddy' Holder, who is Justin Langer's batting coach and something of a fitness and technical guru.

"Our new fitness man at Kent, Glen Ewan, was part of 'Noddy's' team out there so there will be continuity in our work prior to Christmas and all that we do over there.

"It's a time-tabled trip with early starts for a run or swim, then we'll be at the gym and we'll have a few net sessions so it's far from being a holiday, but it will be a nice climate to train and play.

"Glen did some great work with 'Keysy' last year and he's been a huge addition to our team here at Kent this winter. The plan is to get ready for the start of the season and to get better in terms of fitness, psychology and technique.

"From a captain's point of view it will be great to get to the other side of the world and leave the mobile phone at home and concentrate on my game rather than all the other peripheral things that captains get drawn into at this time of year."

The trip will also give Fulton more of an insight into the capabilities and motivation of four of his potential team-mates.

"I've been very impressed with both Michael and Mat'’s approach this winter, both have approached their work with great enthusiasm.

"Carb's has pleased me in particular, even though he was out of the first team toward the end of last season he's driven down from Croydon for all our fitness tests and he looks in really good shape and is hitting the ball beautifully. It's a big season for Carb's for sure, but then it's a big season for all of us in a way.

"I'm hoping to have my biggest season and that's one of the great things looking forward to a new campaign, the run clock starts at nought, the points start at nought and there's all to play for.

"In terms of gearing up, and our progressive approach and in terms of fitness, I'd say this will be one of the fittest Kent squads because everyone has made strides in the right direction."