One of Pirates' favourite sons could be pulling on the black and gold again this season - if there is one.
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Before the coronavirus crisis put a stop to the season Brendan Rixon had been back training with the club.
But with his body feeling refreshed after the year off and the yearning to play still strong, he decided he'd do the pre-season and "play it by ear from there".
Thanks to the pandemic and subsequent suspension of all rugby activities, a few training sessions was as far as it got.
Rixon hasn't yet committed to the playing the season, and isn't certain there will be one, but enjoyed being back amongst the group for the short time that he was.
Not that he was too far away from the action last season, running the water for the side.
"It was really good running the water and being a bit involved," he said.
"I think as a player you want to be on the field and it was a bit hard at times to run the water and not be able to influence any of the game that was happening."
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In saying that he was "pretty good" until the finals rolled around - "then I started to get a bit of an itch".
That itch was what planted the seed of lacing up the boots again. But it really sprouted when he started preparing for the Kokoda Anzac Day trek he had planned with his brother-in-laws Doug Biffin and Scott McInnes.
"Doing the training and starting to get fit for Kokoda, I was starting to feel fit enough that I could start to play footy again and went to a few training sessions," Rixon said.
Doing the training and starting to get fit for Kokoda, I was starting to feel fit enough that I could start to play footy again
- Brendan Rixon
The trek is something they have been talking about doing for probably 10 years. Then last year they went down to The Rugby & Kokoda Long Luncheon at Quirindi.
"One of the auction items was a trip for two people to do Kokoda and one of my brother-in-laws started bidding and he got a bit excited and ended up getting some tickets and then I jumped on board as well," he said.
They have postponed the trip for 12 months and Rixon is hoping younger brother Michael will be able to join them now too.
"It would be good to share those sort of experiences and create memories with the people you care about," he said.
The brothers have long-formed a dynamic duo on the cricket pitch but comparably haven't had a lot of opportunities to play together in Pirates colours, the chance to "have a run around with him at some stage" playing a part in Rixon's decision to return.
He said it was more a combination of things than any specific reason - other than he simply missed it.
Particularly "the half an hour-45 minutes after the game in the sheds just having a beer and a chat and a bit of a laugh".
"That's probably the part I missed the most (last year) but I was still able to do a bit of that," he said.
Should they get on the field Pirates will be looking to create history by becoming the first side to win five straight premierships.
Part of three of those, Rixon said he would be lying if he said it wasn't in the back of his mind somewhere.
"I've been part of the playing group for a fair while and it would be good to achieve something that no other team has," he said.
