There are lots of familiar sights even smells in your kit bag along with some new things too, for the season simply because, the last lot looked and were more than a little worn out past their best.
The familiar continues in the week at training, the old faces, big smiles, sweat and tall stories that you've heard before. It's how it has been for a long time and if you are honest you like it like that.
There's the odd sight too, new people, some in your position. Nothing like some healthy competition to get the season off to a start.
Except of course it's weeks since it started and it's harder than before, harder than when you finished not that many months ago really.
You needed the rest and extended it a little bit longer because plenty of you didn't feel right. Not just bumps and bruises, the more serious bits and something new too.
A feeling you've not felt before, so you looked at it, couldn't work out what it was for and decided not to dwell on it nor ignore it.
Your game will come back, it always does.
You wonder about some moments you notice, when you don't quite get there, missed something, not by much but enough. It's probably OK, no one else will have seen that but you, your game is close, just out of reach.
Afterwards someone says something, asks how you're doing, is everything OK? They saw but you brush it off with a laugh, a smile and a re-direct about all the other moments when you made it.
Perhaps it's further out of reach than you thought?
You decide to push that little bit harder in the week, that should shift it but when it's time to do that it isn't there, not like it should be. That doesn't mean it wasn't good, just not how it's been.
Then that feeling comes back, a little stronger, a little clearer and you stay with it before deciding that it feels a little sad and you're not up for that because there isn't anything to feel that way about.
The sweat and hard work will take care of it.
They usually do but that feeling is bringing a difference into the week. If you're honest it's distracting because now, unlike before, you can't just put it to one side. It feels too important for that.
There are moments, with memories that float by, faces you knew wondering what do they do now. If they don't do this who are they now?
Another question forms, with those faces presenting some of the answers, did it just happen, was it decided for them or was it in their control?
It's the question that unveils the feeling, has this been about finishing? Did they grieve for something that hadn't gone too?
Could this just be about your time to end?
There's time to think and decide.
It's not something to open up about but then again it might help to hear another voice. That's not the skipper, the president or even a best friend away from the game. There's too much shared history.
It needs a neutral voice where you can ask the brave question, if that feeling is grieving for something that hasn't happened yet. What do I do when it arrives?
Will I ever be the same?