The nerves may be already kicking in but Brisbane forward Matt Gillett has no doubt he will return to his best in 2019 ahead of his long awaited return from injury.
Gillett will run out for his first game since round five last year after being named at lock for the Broncos' final NRL pre-season trial against Gold Coast on Saturday night.
The Test second-rower will wear Brisbane's No.13 jersey instead of Tevita Pangai (hamstring) in his return from a fractured neck and shoulder reconstruction.
Gillett, 30, admitted he already had butterflies but it had nothing to do with being anxious about his neck or shoulder.
"It's been a long road. I will be a bit nervous to get back out there but the body is great," he said.
Asked if he could regain his mojo after 10 months on the sidelines, the 12 Test forward said: "No doubt.
"I have been out for a while but I took it as a positive. I missed a lot of footy but I got to refresh mentally and physically and spent time with the family.
"It might take me a month or two to get back to where I was but I am ready to go."
Gillett suffered the neck fracture in round one last year but the full extent of the injury was not discovered until a month later.
Gillett said there were no more lingering doubts about his neck, admitting he had pushed new coach Anthony Seibold to play last week's trial against Wynnum Manly.
"No, I have been bashed out there by the forwards (at training), I will be right," said Gillett, who had shoulder surgery while resting his neck.
"There have been thoughts that have gone through the head on what could happen but as soon as I go out there and train it clears the head."
Gillett will be thrown into the deep end from the outset filling in for powerhouse lock Pangai.
"I will fill in for as long as he is out, whether that is one, two or three weeks," Gillett said.
"I will have to learn that role pretty quick."
Captain Darius Boyd, Corey Oates, Jamayne Isaako, Matt Lodge, Andrew McCullough and Joe Ofahengaue have also been named to play their first game for 2019.
New recruit Sean O'Sullivan is at five-eighth for Anthony Milford (hamstring) while Jack Bird and NSW X-factor James Roberts will combine in the centres for the first time for Brisbane.
