Footy is finally here. We might be three weeks away from the real thing, but trials will give fans their first taste of action for the 2022 season, getting underway this weekend.
It all kicks off on Friday night with a pair of games at Leichhardt, and with every game televised live this year (unlike previous years) it’ll be easier than ever for fans to get answers about their stars, and to get a look at the young guns who will be running around.
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In the grand scheme of things, trials mean nothing to the season itself, but that doesn’t mean certain players won’t be treating the next fortnight as possibly the biggest of their lives with many clubs still confirming their list of top 30 contracted players and development lists for the season ahead.
Most teams have named enormous squads for the opening week of trials, which, in some ways, makes it difficult to know which way to look.
And while a majority of the players on display this weekend will be fringe first graders and youngsters who will be stars of the future, there will still be plenty of storylines that will impact first grade this season.
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Here are the storylines which will be worth following this weekend in our first instalment of The Set Restart for 2022.
5. Jaxson Paulo’s transition to the centres as Lachlan Ilias takes control
The South Sydney Rabbitohs have only named a handful of players for this Saturday's trial with the North Queensland Cowboys who might be considered a chance of being in their best 17 come Round 1 when they take on the Brisbane Broncos.
But two to keep a keen eye on are Jaxson Paulo and Lachlan Ilias.
Paulo has reportedly spent most of the off-season training in the centres ahead of a potential move there under new coach Demetriou.
As it would happen, Paulo appears to be the club's answer to replacing Dane Gagai, who has shipped off to Newcastle on a long-term deal. That comes with the Rabbitohs having both Alex Johnston and Josh Mansour in the side, who deserve to be playing first-grade on the wing.
It means Paulo's training and performances in the centres are now critical, with it being one of the most important positions on the football field in defence, but also attack. There is no understating just how big Gagai's loss is to the Rabbitohs.
Ilias, on the other hand, gets his first crack as the team's general. He won't be playing with most of the spine who will run out alongside him for most of the year, but it's his chance to stand up, direct traffic and prove he has the kicking game to be Adam Reynolds' replacement.
He played a single game in Round 25 last year and while there were some bright spots, there were also some moments that were a cause for concern.
He and Paulo will be intriguing to watch against the Cowboys.
