Richard Blaze believes there is one group looking forward to the new Premiership season more than Leicester Tigers' players and coaches – their supporters.
Tigers' assistant coach was at the club's open day last weekend and was taken aback not so much by the numbers in attendance, but more by the enthusiasm displayed in the wake of a trophy-less 2013-14 campaign.
"The feedback from the supporters showed that they can't wait for the season to get started again," said Blaze. "They are champing at the bit more than we are."
Tigers kick off the new campaign on September 6 when Newcastle Falcons visit Welford Road.
The build-up increases in intensity this weekend when Tigers make the short trip to face Nottingham in the first of their pre-season friendlies.
Leicester will be without the eight men who have been working with Stuart Lancaster's England squad at the start of this week, while Dan Cole continues his rehabilitation from a neck injury.
That means there is plenty of scope for director of rugby Richard Cockerill and his coaching staff to run the rule over the rest of the Leicester squad and see how they are shaping up after the first few weeks of hard work on the training ground.
"It is the same as most years," said Blaze, who took the opportunity this summer to take a look at how South Africa's Blue Bulls and Australian outfit Queensland Reds go about their business.
"Our first game tends to be without the guys who have played during the summer so we get to look at the rest of the squad."
Some of those will be players who have come through the Welford Road academy – or are still involved – and Blaze welcomes that as an important sign of progress for the youngsters.
"Some senior guys will be involved against Nottingham but it is good to see the guys who have graduated from the academy," he said.
"They deserve their chance to go out and play. We are looking at the whole squad with the main focus being on Newcastle and the first week of the season."
Blaze said there is a good mood in the Tigers camp ahead of Saturday, but the players are keen to get into their first live action at the Lady Bay sports ground.
"With not getting to the Premiership final last season we have had a longer pre-season than in previous years, and I think that is something that will stand us in good stead," added Blaze.
