Much like 'a kid at Christmas', Tamworth coach Peter Burke says the players can't wait to strap on the boots again.
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The club held an informal get together on Tuesday night ahead of the official resumption of training tonight.
The first time that many of them had been together since mid-March, Burke described the mood on Tuesday as a mix of excitement and "a little bit of relief that there was some sort of normality coming back".
"They're just itching to get out there and train with the probability of playing," he said.
"We just want to be in a position where if we get a green light to go ahead, through all the agencies looking after the COVID issues, that we're ready to go."
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He said Tuesday night was really just to touch base and go through what they can and can't do when they do get back into training.
With the restrictions (they can only train in groups of up to 10 and can't perform any contact drills) and after more than two months of limited training, at this stage a lot of the focus will be on building fitness and the basics.
"Effectively we'll have different activities happening in different parts of the ground, all pegged off and a coach on every activity, and just move people through.
"Looking after cardio, looking after core strength, mimicking lineouts for example, doing kicking exercises. All those sorts of things we can do, to get us to a point that when contact is able to take place, then we're right to go," Burke said.
He stressed the importance of adhering to the guidelines and remaining vigilant.
"It could be flipped on it's head really really quickly," he said.
"We've just got to monitor things. I've told them if they're sick in any way, shape or form, think of your mates before you think of yourself and stay at home, get tested, do everything right."
Before the pandemic, player numbers were strong and interest doesn't seem to have waned.
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"There were three new players that just turned up to come to the meeting, which was really good," Burke said, adding that he knows of about another four or five new players in town.
Nearing three months now since all rugby-related activities were suspended, Burke said the break has refreshed him and given him a renewed enthusiasm.
"It's been a big two years up to now and this year I was probably feeling a little bit exhausted from the last couple of years but I've had a chance now to recharge the batteries," he said.
"And I bet you the boys feel exactly the same."
