The Broadmeadow Magic under-12 boys have greatly missed playing football.
After three months on the sidelines due to pandemic restrictions, they'll return to action on Saturday - along with thousands of other soccer players.
The Magic under-12As will meet Adamstown Rosebuds in a clash between two of the most iconic clubs in Newcastle.
It'll be mates against mates and a day dedicated to the love of the game.
Magic forward Kristian Majurovski said football was a big part of his life.
"It's great because we haven't played in a little while - we've been stuck at home," Kristian said.
"It's been really hard because I love football."
Saxon Tasovski, also a Magic attacker, said: "To get back into it feels amazing".
The boys are looking forward to playing with mates and "having a laugh". And everyone likes that winning feeling.
"When we won our final game last season, that was a big positive," Saxon said, adding it meant they went undefeated.
Magic coach Tony Majurovski said his team was "excited and relieved to be at a point where we can go back to contact sport".
"Honestly, football at this age has to be for fun. The kids have missed that."
He said the team was a "tight-knit group".
"They just enjoy each other's company. That shows in their performances."
Team manager Jessica Majurovski said the players would be reminded about not shaking hands.
"We've taught our team to do some boot taps or elbow taps. They've taken a good liking to that," she said.
"We'll be sanitising hands and not sharing drink bottles and all of that."
