In the introductory part of the winter preparations, as usual, the players underwent a series of fitness tests and health and nutritional examinations. Players are divided into four groups, some of them at the Institute of Kinesiology and Sport at the Faculty of Kinesiology, while parts of tests were undertook at Poljud.

It is necessary to make control tests to better plan future training schedule and thus help the coaching staff gain a clearer picture of the condition of each of the players at the start of these 40-day long preparation.

Savvas missed tests because of a fever while Hysen Memolla and Hamza got minor injuries. National team players Josip Juranovic and Fran Tudor also missed the introductory tests as they are currently in China with Croatia team, while Jefferson will join the team later.