The Windsor Spitfires' quest for back-to-back Memorial Cup titles opens a week from tonight.

After two days off to rest and relax, the Spitfires will get back on the ice today in preparation for the tournament opener in Brandon against the host Wheat Kings (8 p.m., RSO, live blog at windsorstar.com).

For the coaching staff, the preparation work got underway in earnest Thursday.

Assistant coach D.J. Smith was breaking down game tape of Brandon while head coach Bob Boughner and associate coach Bob Jones were working on the team's itinerary for the tournament, which could last 10 days.

"Today's an organizing day," Boughner said Thursday.

It will be a different Windsor team that heads to the Memorial Cup.

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for some players, the Spitfires have a dozen players back from last year's championship team while Marc Cantin and Stephen Johnston played in the 2008 Memorial Cup for Belleville.

"The experience is going to mean a lot," Boughner said.

"I've talked about it a lot in the playoffs. Some teams get there and they're a little wide eyed and feeling the pressure.

"We've come back from 0-3 (against Kitchener) and beat the No. 1 team (Barrie) in the CHL. There's no pressure. It'll be treated like fun. For a lot of teams, there's a lot of stress built in, but I really think these guys want to go and have fun."

Having been through it a year ago, Boughner said setting the itinerary is much easier this time around.

They know what to expect as far as practices and meals.

"You also want to make sure you plan things to get the guys out of the hotel so they don't go stir crazy," Boughner said.

The club will also change its practice focus this time around.

"Last year, we were so worried about what Drummondville was going to throw at us or what Rimouski was going to do," Boughner said. "The next few days are going to be focused on how we play.

"It's not a seven-game series, so you can't worry about the tendencies of the other team. We have to worry about our team playing the best that it can."

First up today will be shaking any rust off from two days of rest.

"The next two days are conditioning work days," Boughner said.

"Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, we'll have time to work on our systems."

The team will fly out of Windsor Wednesday and get a day to settle in before the tournament starts.