Though the NRL 2017 season is more than a month away, the player market has seen a lot of activity as clubs make their moves on player recruitment.
Unfortunately, injuries also seem to be at an all-time high with the likes of newly recruited Newcastle Knights, Rory Kostjasyn, already injured in a training session.
And even recovering Storms Fullback Billy Slater, is looking at a wobbly start for this season.
Despite the injuries and players moving, there are only two agendas gaining prominence for this pre-season, the Downer NRL Auckland Nines and the pre-season trial games.
There are some teams that are not so sure of the season opener, now that they are already losing players in just the pre-season.
2016 Premiers, Cronulla Sharks, will not have Michael Ennis on their side as well as Ben Barba, for the pre-season and the first half of this season.
After ending their 49 years of premiership drought, this defending champions cannot afford any more loses to the team line up.
On the other hand, minor premiers, Melbourne Storms are good to go for this year, with the team, still intact.
And the possible return of Billy Slater would only be a plus for them.
In the meantime, the Raiders, Cowboys and Broncos will gear up to battle for restoration to former glory, as all three fell short of a finals placement last season.
While Bulldogs and Roosters will see a lot of new faces in their line-up, the Eels will be giving their best shot this season as well and trying as much as possible to stay away from unwanted headlines.
And for the rest of the teams lurking in the bottom ranks, this season will be all about climbing the ranks for them, and the Auckland Nines is one tournament they will take on, wholeheartedly in preparation.
