Two more days.

After a spring season of home games and practices on Carleton University's rock hard turf, Ottawa Fury FC are expected to train for the first time at TD Place Monday.

That means -- barring any hiccups, scheduling conflicts or other unforeseen delays -- the Fury will only train twice more at Algonquin College, its second temporary training facility in four months.

"We've been waiting a long time and I think the guys are excited to have a permanent place and something to call home," said Fury defender Drew Beckie.

Beckie expects TD Place to be a difficult place for other NASL teams to play in.

"I think that it will become a fortress for us, so I hope that we become comfortable real quick and get used to it," he said.

Head coach Marc Dos Santos had high praise for the facility and expects it to go a long way in raising the profile of the club.

"The stadium, for me, is probably the nicest one in Canada," he said. "Everything around TD Place is so nice, so pro, it's going to give us a lift that's guaranteed."

Not lost on anyone is the difference playing on the high-end TD Place turf will make.

The lush green turf was recently installed and the CFL's Ottawa RedBlacks have been keeping it warm for their soccer counterparts.

"We've heard nothing but good things about the turf," said Haworth.

A major factor, at least for fans, will be the removal of football lines for soccer matches and vice versa, so fans of either sports won't spend half the game figuring out what the various lines mean (sorry, New York Cosmos).

It's still turf, which is perhaps the only the negative anyone has come up with about the playing surface so far.

"I think if TD Place was natural grass it would probably be home of the Canadian National Team," said Dos Santos, who also expects the new digs to attract new and bigger crowds who may have been less interested coming out to Keith Harris for a match. "If I'm a soccer dad that has to buy a game at Carleton, it's one thing. When I have a pro team playing at TD Place (it's something else)."

Two more days.

TRANSFER WINDOW APPROACHING

With the transfer window set to open July 8, Dos Santos and his staff are keeping a close eye on what's available and what other player or players could be a goof fit for Fury FC.

Dos Santos, not one to sit idle when he sees room for improvement, said before the end of the spring season he would consider bringing in another player or two if it would help the team.

He made good on that promise, at least in part, by bringing in defender Ryan Richter on loan from Toronto FC.

But that doesn't mean Dos Santos is done tinkering.

"I'm always open to make moves that are going to better the club," said Dos Santos. "We're very attentive and careful with what's happening in the market.

"If I have the opportunity, I have to respect the fans, I have to respect the fact that we're going to TD Place and I have to respect the fact that fans always expect a good club on the field. That's why I'm here."

That said, the coach won't make a move just for the sake of making one, especially with the return of striker Tom Heinemann for the final match of the spring season and the impending return of midfielder Nicki Paterson, who missed all but the first match of the fall campaign with a knee injury.

Paterson, Dos Santos said Wednesday, is expected to ramp up his training starting Monday with the goal of rejoining full squad training soon.

"It's like getting a brand new player," he said of Paterson's eventual return. "When I look at all that, we feel comfortable, we feel confident."

Haworth said the players are confident too, even if no other additions are mad.e

"Even just bringing (Richter) in is a huge addition to the back line," he said. "We're going to be nothing but stronger, so we're looking forward to starting the season.

SIDELINES

Wednesday's session featured a smaller group on the pitch as most of Ottawa's reserve players hit the road to Montreal to play a local Quebec team ... Sinisa Ubiparipovic, who missed the final match of the spring season with a hamstring injury, appears to be improving though he hasn't rejoined full training ... Single game Fury tickets are on now on sale at OttawaFuryFC.com ... A number of Fury FC's players who were born or grew up in the United States -- Devala Gorrick, Mason Trafford, Tony Donatelli, Omar Jarun, Tom Heinemann - were left disappointed as the USA bowed out of the World Cup Tuesday with a loss to Belgium.

chris.hofley@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @chrishofley