Lions tourist Alun Wyn Jones insists he is feeling fresh and ready to go ahead of what he hopes will be another long season.
The 2009 Test lock has just returned to training after a four-week rest following an extensive campaign with Wales and the Ospreys.
Jones, who featured in all three Lions internationals against the Springboks three years ago, has been playing for close to two seasons straight after the 2010 fixtures led almost directly into training camps and warm-up matches for the 2011 World Cup.
Jones then toured Australia with Wales this summer having helped the Ospreys to RaboDirect PRO12 glory at the end of May.
But despite the heavy workload of the past 24 months, the 26-year-old wasn’t keen to take off any more time than he needed to and is now desperate to push on in pre-season.
"I'm feeling pretty good after a few weeks off," Jones, who could be in for another hectic schedule if he earns selection for a second successive Lions tour, told the Ospreys website.
"I did make sure that I had a complete two weeks of nothing to recharge the batteries.
"I'd be the first to admit that I don't enjoy it so I managed to start training two weeks before coming back in, to give me a chance to get up to speed quicker.
"It's been a long couple of years straight through with the World Cup but I've rested and it's good to be back in work again to be honest, to see all the boys and to get back into the swing of things.
"I didn't completely forget about work while I've been away. I've been in close contact with Steve (Tandy, Ospreys head coach) throughout the off-season and I came in to see him when we got back from Australia before I went on holiday, to make sure I kept my ear to the ground.
"It's been difficult not to show my face too much over the summer, I want to be in and around the camp and I want to be preparing for another big season with the Ospreys but, like the other internationals, I was under orders to take time out! I think I got the balance right though."
