Workhorse paceman Mitchell Starc is feeling the burn of a long summer but can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
All he has to do now is win the Big Bash League final.
Only four overs of bowling stand between Ashes player-of-the-series Starc and a well-deserved chance to chill out and focus full-time on his golf game.
The left-armer bowled 153.1 overs in Australia's recent 4-1 Ashes triumph, the third-most of any series during his 105-match Test career.
But unlike after either of the two more prolific series, Starc has jumped straight from Tests into BBL duty, playing at the Sydney Sixers for the first time in 11 years.
Starc claimed figures of 2-29 as the Sixers defeated Hobart on Friday night to progress to Sunday's tournament final against the Perth Scorchers.
The 35-year-old has stayed mostly injury-free through it all, shaking off a minor shoulder complaint to line up against the Hurricanes at the SCG.
But asked after the game whether he was finally feeling knackered, Starc was quick to answer.
"Yes," he said.
"Four overs to go. My golf season starts on Monday, so one more game, see if we can do what we can to win a final, then I'll be putting my feet up."
Sunday's match at Optus Stadium marks the sixth time in 15 BBL summers that the Scorchers and Sixers are meeting in the decider.
Along with Test teammate Steve Smith and captain Moises Henriques, Starc is one of three active Sixers to have played on the team that beat Perth in the first BBL final some 14 years ago.
"Not that that means much, it just means we're old. But obviously the two incredibly successful clubs go at it again in another final," Starc said.
"Who could ask for more?"
The Sixers will have flown around 13,000km in a week by the time they return from Sunday's final, having also visited Perth for Tuesday's qualifying final loss.
The Sydneysiders have discussed changes to their outlook with the bat after being skittled for just 99 in that defeat.
In 15 summers, the Sixers have only scored a lower total on four occasions.
But Starc felt the Sixers, who posted 8-198 against the Hurricanes, made strides to the good on Friday night.
"We probably approached it like we were chasing 200 instead of 140," Starc said of the Perth loss.
"We know they're a good side, we had a great opportunity the other night and we were off the mark. We've spoken about it as a group and I thought we rectified that tonight."
