Cardiff City's pre-season training is really ramping up ahead of the new campaign.
The three new signings have all arrived in time for things to pick up pace, while the coaching staff are able to gauge exactly where the players are at the minute.
The squad are currently undergoing tests and upping their fitness drills ahead of Saturday's first pre-season encounter with Bath and new arrival James Collins has lifted the lid on how it's all going.
"Coming in, the first four days, it feels like I've been here forever," Collins said on the club's website.
"The lads have been great with me and I'm really enjoying it.
"I did all right (with the bleep tests). Packy (Marlon Pack) won it, but I finished just behind him. It was a tough run but I think the scores were quite high from everyone.
"It shows the boys have come back in good nick and ready to go."
Collins was first through the door before being joined shortly after by Mark McGuinness and Ryan Wintle.
The Republic of Ireland international has quite a few years on those two and is more at ease with hopping from club to club, with the other two having only signed for one senior side.
However, Collins said they are both settling nicely into pre-season and their new surroundings and are raring to go for the challenges which lie ahead this season.
"They've settled in really well," Collins said.
"I'm staying in a hotel with a couple of them at the minute. They are good lads, they train hard and I think they'll be great additions to this football club."
The 30-year-old will be considered something of a veteran in this squad, especially with the likes of Joe Bennett, Sol Bamba and Junior Hoilett having departed this summer.
There was a worry that there would be a lack of leadership and experience within the squad, but Collins' arrival does bolster that aspect of the squad.
The forward will add some much-needed nous and life experience to coax through an encouraging cohort of young players and that, he says, is something which comes fairly naturally to him.
"It comes naturally to me, really," he added. "I've always been vocal on the pitch and I feel that helps me, talking to people, telling them where to be. And I like that being done to me.
"I've been captain for Luton a couple of times and Shrewsbury as well.
"The older you get, the more games you play, it just comes naturally. I'm just here to help everyone on the pitch and vice versa."
