Rugby Union: Pirates set for earlier start to pre-season

The club will commence pre-season training Tuesday week (November 10).

Normally not starting until after the Country Music Festival, Squires said they put the feelers out about starting early and "everyone was keen to do it".

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"It's more about just bringing the blokes back together," he said.

"Getting everyone involved and building that culture again."

That has been one of their strengths during their four-year premiership run.

"One of things I noticed over [predecessor] Mat's (Kelly) four years was yeah they were a good team, but they were a team. You could tell they were all mates," Squires said.

The plan is to train one night a week through to Christmas.

"If we do this before Christmas, when we start again in January it means we can build straight into the season," he said.

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He is expecting the players to come back in mixed shape. While they have had a core group of 12-13 that have been consistently training in the gym, others haven't "done much".

The opportunity to win an historic fifth-straight title tantalisingly in their sights, Squires said the year has given everyone an appreciation for playing rugby again and only enhanced the drive among the playing group.

"Speaking to a lot of the players they're very excited to get into it," he said.

As are he and Pascoe.

"Todd and I are of the opinion that we've got a good team on our hands and they're a team that's hungry," Squires said.

Aside from starting earlier, they won't be looking to change the blueprint too much from what they did in the pre-season this year.

They were only weeks from the first game when everything was put on hold, and Squires said it will all still "feel a bit weird" until the referee blows the whistle on April 10.

At this stage Pirates are set to open their campaign with a 2019 grand final rematch with newly-crowned New England champions Walcha.