One need only look at Rebels backrower Michael Wells.to see signs that training intensity has returned to fierce levels ahead of Super Rugby AU.
Wells was sporting a large gash under his left eye on Wednesday after a "friendly fire" training clash, a sure sign that teams are finally feeling back to normal.
"A bit of friendly fire, a bit of a head clash in mauls," he said.
"Not exactly what I wanted but it's part of it all."
Australia's Super Rugby teams have been in full training for almost three weeks and Wells said tings had ramped up since full contact was completely cleared.
"It always is as soon as it's a bit of full noise contact and particularly maul time, everyone ramps up big gear so unfortunate but kind of to be expected at times," he said.
The Rebels are now just 10 days away from their competition opener against the Brumbies, set to be played in Canberra, and Wells said there had been little discussion about any of those plans changing.
A positive COVID-19 test in the AFL and a spike in cases in Victoria led to the NRL relocating the Melbourne Storm to NSW indefinitely and shifted their next home game.
The Rebels were all tested for coronavirus on Monday but have continued on as normal with all tests returning negative.
Rugby Australia has no plans to move the Rebels or change any arrangements around their Canberra opener at this stage but Wells said they would be ready for anything.
I think it's been mentioned in dispatches but I think those chats are a bit above my pay grade so I kind of just wait to be told what's going on," he said.
"The goal is the tournament and playing games but I think everyone's just happier playing games but whatever makes that happens, the boys will adapt and deal with.
"Obviously this period's been tough for a range of reasons for a lot of people and i guess for us when we were just training without any certainty it kind of, you lose the energy and the motivation a little bit.
"It's nice now to go,'we're definitely playing next Saturday in Canberra', there's that certainty and you actually have a goal to aim for which makes it a bit more attainable and the motivation comes back."
Melbourne will have a chance to make an early statement should all go to plan next week as they face the competition favourite Brumbies.
The Brumbies led the Australian conference when Super Rugby was shut down and have already been labelled the benchmark by Rebels assistant Shuan Berne.
Wells was a little more reticent to heap too much praise on their first opponents.
"The Brumbies were hitting their straps and they were the team to beat in the last comp but there's been a lot of water under the bridge in the last eight to 10 weeks," he said.
"You kind of assume that they're the short-priced favourites at this stage but no one really knows how teams are going to come out.
"Everyone's worked really hard prepping in this period and everyone's had a lot of time to prep so you could see a really different aspect to games, you could see teams come out and be completely different to what they were and so it's really anyone's game at this stage."
The Rebels had a preview of the new laws to be introduced in Super Rugby AU this week after a visit from referee Angus Gardner.
In the breakdown, Wells said the key for he and his backrow mates would be pouncing on the pill quickly and accurately.
"I think the biggest change is around the breakdown in the cleaners, if you're on the ball you don't really have to survive anymore," he said.
"It's first one in, they're really rewarding speed to the breakdown.
"For us, that's obviously going to really highlight our breakdown presence attacking wise, you can't be slow, you're going to have to be really fast and defensively if you have a good on-ball presence you're really going to get pay out of it."
The Brumbies take on the Rebels at GIO Stadium on Saturday July 4, kicking off at 7:15pm AEST, LIVE on Foxtel, Foxtel Now and Kayo Sports. Buy a Kayo subscription here.
