How good are the synthetic trainers?
Doing limited panel training is certainly a must, but I'm not sure how good it is in your typical synth trainer for the sole reason of realism. Now, if the trainer can simulate some form of turbulence (jiggling the gauges, little swings of the compass etc) then great but all the ones I've used are nice and smooth. Get up in the air with an instructor on a nice bumpy day, slap a cover over the instruments you want and do some practice (and some recovery from unusual attitude while you are there!).
The other important tool you should always carry (if you are on stream gauges) is to carry the stick on instrument covers because if the AH does fail it is all too easy in times of stress to look at it and try to fly accordingly.