They have been braving the elements as well the midges as they endure pre-season training under torturer-in-chief Callum Forrester and his henchmen.

Missing will be stalwarts Dean Kelbrick, last season’s captain and prop Nick Cox who have bowed down to the inevitable wear and tear and retire with the grateful thanks of the club while Sylvain Diez, often unsung but an important figure around Millbrae both on and off the pitch, has returned to France.

The return of Frazier Climo after his spell in the pro game with Llanlelli Scarlets will gladden the hearts of those who remember his previous exploits in a pink and black shirt, scum half Ali Price and Finn’s young brother Archie Russell join from Stirling County, wing Hadden McPherson trots down the M77 from Hawks and from the other direction comes back five contender Lee Scott from Dumfries.

The three match pre-season warm-up starts at Braidholm this Saturday against GHA, who reached the promotion play-offs last season, the following week it’s off to Sunnyside, Falkirk for a double header with the home side and West of Scotland, then finally a trip to Blaydon on August 22.

All this is of course a prelude to the BT Premiership opener against Hawks at Old Anniesland before the first home game of the season against Boroughmuir on September 5.