The Scottish midfielder, instrumental in the club's survival last season, knows that the results are not as important as the players aim to be in top shape for the season opener.
"Pre season is not about results, it's all about getting your fitness back and your team in shape and I think we are heading in the right direction," he told Footymad.
"I think that everyone would agree that at this stage of the season, results don't take a priority it's just about getting ready for the opening game. We can take a lot of positives from the Middlesbrough game
– I think we will have to take a look at the goals we lost but we just want to get in shape and the results will come when the season starts."For O'Brien, last season's pre-season was a stop-start affair for the player and now he is just happy he can get a full campaign under his belt.
He added: "That was one of the downfalls for me last season that I never got in a pre-season campaign under my belt. I went about two-and-a-half months trying to get a contract and then moving down to Sheffield as well as being injured so that wasn't great but this season I have been here from the start so hopefully it will help me."
The former Livingston star knows that Wednesday have added some decent midfielders to the squad but also feels for Glenn Whelan, who was put on the transfer list despite impressing since returning from his summer break.
"All of the new boys have settled in really well, even the likes of Wade Small who has been injured. Yoann (Folly) did well for us last season and he is a great addition to the squad. When Glenn was transfer-listed it could have been any one of us and a week is a very long time in football but to be fair the Glenn his attitude has been spot on and in his own mind he will be fully focused on getting back into the team and doing well."
A young Wednesday squad will play at Burton Albion tonight.