Stephen Larkham is making a rugby comeback on Saturday, but what about the trademark headgear he wore in almost all of his 102 Tests for Australia and 112 games for the ACT Brumbies?
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"I'm not sure yet. I packed it. And if I'm serious [about playing], I'll wear it. Realistically I have to be serious. It's not golden oldies," Larkham grinned.
And the kilometres of strapping tape and bandages that wrapped his elbows, arms and knees by the end of his World Cup winning and Super Rugby conquering career?
"I don't need those any more. I don't get bashed up every week, so I'm bandage free. Although, I did have a bit of hamstring scare at training."
Larkham and dual international Andrew Walker will come out of retirement to join the Brumbies as wildcard players for the Brisbane 10s this weekend.
It's a step back in time for two players who are still idolised today because of their attacking brilliance and they were among the best in the world at the peak of their powers.
Larkham, who is also the Brumbies' coach, hasn't played in a professional environment since 2011 while Walker still dabbles in Brisbane's first grade rugby league competitions.
The champion duo will be faced with some daunting challenges, including taking down Toulon's 124-kilogram freight-train winger Alesana Tuilagi.
"I am a bit nervous, it's like your first game all over again," Walker said.
"And Tuilagi ... yeah, I've seen him play. I guess it's a bit like Jonah [Lomu], just try not to get in his face. Ankle taps and grass-cutters. The lawnmowers will be coming out."
The Brisbane 10s will be the Brumbies' final preparation for the Super Rugby season, which begins with a clash against trans-Tasman rivals the Canterbury Crusaders on February 25.
It adds an element of seriousness to the two-day tournament given Larkham will also use performances to judge who's ready to play against hte Crusaders.
There are 10 players in the 27-man squad have never played a Super Rugby match for the Brumbies before.
So the return of Larkham and Walker, who were teammates when the Brumbies won their first title in 2001, is aimed at passing on a slice of history to a new generation.
Larkham is one of the greatest playmakers in Australian rugby history, guiding the Wallabies to a World Cup triumph in 1999.
The 42-year-old still occasionally practices and relives the moment he booted a 45-metre drop goal in an extra-time semi-final win against South Africa in the tournament.
Walker was a rugby league and rugby union magician, making defenders look like fools when he injected himself into games.
Larkham challenged his squad to a history lesson at the start of this year, asking players to select who they think should be in the greatest Brumbies team of all.
Walker was in everyone's team, either as a winger or fullback.
"He had this ability to pop up in the right position, he cruised around the field and then had spark," Larkham said of Walker.
"I think the guys are going to get an appreciation of how good he is. We've lost a bit of an edge, but he'll have that composure that will rub off on the boys.
"I think it will bring this new group of players just that little bit closer to Brumbies teams of the past that guys have always appreciated.
Walker admits he doesn't know some of the Brumbies players he'll be lining up next to.
Scrumhalf Brent Hamlin and winger Andrew Muirhead are trying to win Super Rugby contracts while Jordan Jackson-Hope, 20, and Rob Valetini, 18, are young enough to be Larkham and Walker's sons.
"What I'm hoping to pass on is putting on that jumper and show them what I played for," Walker said.
"The Brumbies are the little brother of Australian rugby. But we excel in Canberra because we're a tighter group, you live in each other's pockets.
"You're not mates. You're family. Hopefully the new guys just get some experience. We're starting from scratch again at the Brumbies."
The Brumbies will play Toulon, the Otago Highlanders and the Blue Bulls from Pretoria in their three pool matches at the Brisbane 10s.
BRISBANE GLOBAL 10s
Saturday: Brumbies v Highlanders at 2.57pm, Brumbies v Toulon at 6.01pm, Brumbies v Blue Bulls at 8.28pm. All times AEDT. Coverage on Fox Sports from 12.30pm to 10pm on Saturday and 10.30am to 8pm on Sunday.
Brumbies squad: Stephen Larkham (wildcard), Andrew Walker (wildcard), Rob Valetini, Henry Speight, Andrew Muirhead, Rory Arnold, Kyle Godwin, Saia Faingaa, Les Leuluaialii-Makin, James Dargaville, Nic Mayhew, Tom Cusack, Andrew Smith, Ben Hyne, Faalelei Sione, Isaac Thompson, Chris Alcock, Nigel Ah Wong, Blake Enever, Ben Alexander, Jordan Jackson-Hope, Tom Staniforth, Robbie Abel, Brent Hamlin, Aidan Toua, Jordan Smiler, Tom Banks.
SUPER RUGBY ROUND ONE
February 25: Canterbury Crusaders v ACT Brumbies in Christchurch, 5.35pm.
