The big-name recruits have unsurprisingly stolen the spotlight but it's the lesser-hyped types at the Queensland Reds that have Quade Cooper bursting out of his skin.
All the pre-season talk has been around the Super Rugby franchise's off-season signing spree, which netted the likes of Stephen Moore, George Smith, Scott Higginbotham and Cooper himself.
But hulking wingers Eto Nabuli and Chris Kuridrani are the ones who have caught the maverick five-eighth's eye over the summer.
Both were hugely impressive in last week's big trial match win over the Melbourne Rebels at Ballymore, each scoring a try apiece as the Reds put together some of the best attacking play they've produced in years.
"I haven't had much to do with Eto," Cooper said of the former St George Illawarra winger, who made his Reds debut while the No.10 was playing in France with Toulon last year.
"But coming in here, he's a freak athlete - 6'5", 110kg and as quick as any back out there.
"He's one of those guys I've been excited to work with."
And then there's Kuridrani, the younger brother of Fijian powerhouse Nemani Nadolo who is yet to make good on his undoubted promise as a player.
Cooper reckons that's about to change.
"I think he's just worked out he's pretty similar to Eto," he said.
"Over the past few years he must have thought he was five foot nothing and about 30kg.
"But at the moment, he's one of the best athletes. I'm pretty excited about what he's going to produce."
Cooper could barely contain his excitement ahead of Friday night's season opener against the Sharks.
"I couldn't be more happy. I'm just over the moon about the opportunity to play at Suncorp again," he said.
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