Gary Rowett on U's adjusting to humidity ahead of first game
The U's arrived in Jakarta on Thursday, and kick-off their President's Cup campaign against a Liga Indonesia All-Star side at 19:30 WIB (13:30 BST).
Indonesia internationals Marselino Ferdinan and Ole Romeny have stolen most of the limelight so far, with their presence attracting both the media and excited fans.
Humidity, humility and a fantastic football arena: Day one in Indonesia
United head coach Gary Rowett said: 'It's not your usual pre-season trip, is it? From getting off the plane, seeing the excitement certainly for Ole and Marselino, and also seeing the passion for football in Indonesia has been really eye-opening and quite enlightening.
'I think the players and staff so far have really enjoyed it. It brings different challenges, of course, the heat and humidity, and getting used to that.
'We're so early in pre-season, but it's what we're here to do. It's been good so far.'
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Rowett added: 'We'd normally be training twice a day. We've struggled to do that with the heat. It's once a day and the other session has got to be a gym-based session in the air conditioning.
'To play the game so early in pre-season, where you're normally playing against a non-league side and you can make as many changes as you want, and rumour has it, we could be playing in front of 70,000 fans in a humid stadium. It's going to be a real challenge.
'Part of me as a manager, you've got to distinguish between wanting to win anything you enter, but at the same time, we also need to get the players through it safely and we need to get the conditioning right. We don't want to put people at risk.
'It's a really difficult balance, but an interesting one nonetheless.
'It's going to be a challenge firstly with the weather for the players. A lot of the other teams will be a lot more used to it.
'Normally we'd be out in Spain or Portugal. That would be your bog-standard pre-season. There aren't many times you get the opportunity to come to Indonesia for two weeks.
'It's probably not our ideal preparation football-wise, but in terms of a new culture, a new football culture as well, it's going to be a really interesting trip.
'I probably felt a little bit of trepidation, but I think everyone's really embraced it so far and really enjoyed it.'
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