One hundred and two days have passed since the 2022 SSE Airtricity League of Ireland Premier Division campaign wrapped up. Now it's time to start all over again.
There's four top-flight games down for decision on Friday night. Here's all you need to know.
St Pat's v Derry City, Richmond Park, 7.45pm
St Pat's brought in six new faces over the winter, but it's the retention of 15 players from last term that gives boss Tim Clancy hope they can enjoy better consistency.
Clancy had a a significant rebuild to contend with when he took the reins from Dundalk-bound Stephen O'Donnell over a year ago so he'll have welcomed a more settled pre-season this time.
Tommy Lonergan's return to Inchicore was widely welcomed after his excellent year at UCD. Clancy has also added Estonian international midfielder Vladislav Kreida, Dutch defender Noah Lewis and Jake Mulraney, back in Ireland after a stint with Orlando FC in the MLS. The loan arrivals of Jay McGrath from Coventry City and Wolves' Conor Carty also add quality.
Last season Derry won three of the the four meetings these clubs had; the other game was a draw. So it's a tough first assignment for the Saints, albeit one Clancy is relishing.
"It's a great first game for us and we're looking forward to it," he said.
"Our first two matches this season will be at home so we're hoping to make that advantage count and start well in front of our home fans."
Derry are many people's fancies to deny Shamrock Rovers the four-in-a-row this year. They've signed well too: Colm Whelan from UCD, goalkeeper Tadhg Ryan from Bohemians, Ben Doherty from Larne and ex-St Pat's midfielder Adam O'Reilly who signed from Preston North End.
They also completed the loan signing of winger Ollie O'Neill from Fulham on Thursday which is a significant lift on the eve of the new season.
The Candystripes gained major momentum from their FAI Cup win against Shelbourne. Now they want a proper title challenge.
"We have a squad here we're delighted with at the minute," said Higgins.
"It's a brilliant football club to be leading and hopefully there's more good days ahead but you can't look too far ahead of ourselves. We have a huge game Friday to kick off our league campaign."
Team news
St Pat's: Harry Brockbank hurt his calf in the Leinster Senior Cup defeat to Wexford recently and will miss the game, while Adam Murphy is also out with a knock.
Derry City: New arrival Ollie O'Neill goes straight into Higgins' matchday squad.
Cork City v Bohemians, Turner's Cross, 7.45pm (live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player)
Cork City are back in the top flight and will announce their return in front of the TV cameras at a packed Turner's Cross.
Colin Healy's youthful side won the first Division last season but they'll be prepared for a big step up.
Declan Devine brings his new-look side to town hoping to set the tone with a good first outing.
Devine made 10 new signings in the off-season with Adam McDonnell (Sligo Rovers), James Akintunde (Derry City), Dean Williams (Drogheda United), Luke Dennison (Longford Town), Dylan Connolly (Morecambe), Jay Benn (Lincoln City, loan) and Kacper Radkowski (Slask Wroclaw, loan) all in contention to feature alongside the returning Keith Buckley, Paddy Kirk (Sligo Rovers) and Grant Horton (Cheltenham Town, loan).
Devine said: "Everybody is really looking forward to it. We’ve a fully fit squad, and everyone has trained really well in pre-season.
"We have had so many new players and so many comings and goings since the end of last season right up until this week, so it is really exciting for the team to go out and finally test themselves together now in a league game.
"They have worked extremely hard since day one in pre-season. We have had some good results and good performances in that time too and the players seem to be gelling."
Team news
Bohs: New signings Jay Benn, Kacper Radkowski and Drew Baker are all available to Devine having arrived at Dalymount this week.
Dundalk v UCD, Oriel Park, 7.45pm
Last season Stephen O'Donnell guided Dundalk to third in the league, earning a return to European football. Their home form was key to that - the Lilywhites lost just once at Oriel Park.
O'Donnell has added some fresh faces to his squad during the off-season with Hayden Muller, Louie Annesley, Archie Davies, Cameron Elliott and Connor Malley all arriving from the UK ahead of the new campaign.
"Expectation wise, we know that the pressure is on us but we're relishing that," said O'Donnell.
"When there's no expectancy on you, it means you're obviously not at a big club or you're not doing things right. We're going to have to be patient, we're going to have to play with a tempo and we're going to have to play with quality."
It could be a long campaign for UCD. The Students are one of two part-time teams in the division [Drogheda United are the other] and they'll do well to just avoid bottom spot. Last season they finished ninth and then survived the promotion/relegation play-off against Waterford thanks to Tommy Lonergan's goal.
Lonergan has gone to St Pat's, Colm Whelan has also left, and it looks a big ask for Andy Meyler to keep working miracles.
Team news
Dundalk: John Mountney (knee) and Robbie McCourt (suspension) miss out but Daniel Kelly is back in the squad after resuming training this week.
Shelbourne v Drogheda United, Tolka Park, 7.45pm
Shels suffered a painful end to Damien Duff's first season in charge as Derry City brushed them aside in the FAI Cup final, but overall 2022 went down as a really solid campaign.
There had been talk over the winter of investment from Sport Republic, the owners of Southampton, but it never materialised. Duff has been open about the financial constraints, admitting some experienced players on his radar were simply too expensive, but he has a hungry young squad at his disposal and the desire to keep improving.
Duff also strengthened his squad during the off season with the arrival of Paddy Barrett, Tyreke Wilson, Conor Kearns, Evan Caffrey, Kyle Robinson, Andrew Quinn, and Cian Leavy, while Matty Smith completed a permanent move from Derry.
"In the league there’s always a big turnover in squads, we had 15 out and 15 in before the start of last year, it’s a huge challenge to try and build a team in that scenario," said Duff.
"The additions will help us this year. I think the team growing is a big thing for me, they’re a year older, that experience is vital."
The Drogs wree once again shorn of talent in the winter. Dean Williams, Andrew Quinn, Keith Cowan, Chris Lyons and Dane Massey are gone, but striker Freddie Draper and midfielder Elicha Ahui have joined from Lincoln City and boss Kevin Doherty will hoping more young guns step up in the coming months.
"The budget is down from last year, which was the lowest in the league bar UCD which is a different model," said Doherty.
"The club is where it is with investment talks with different groups. It's too late for this year and we just have to make the most of it.
"We were able to do alright last year and we'll try to do the same again. You have to get on with it and I’ve put together what I think is a competitive squad."
Team news
Shelbourne: Defender Shane Griffin is nursing a muscular injury and is a doubt.
The new League of Ireland season is almost upon us. @Corktod looks ahead to an exciting campaign #RTEsoccer pic.twitter.com/kkzuL76hbc
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) February 16, 2023
