It has been decades since the staging of the interprovincial series has meant so much to the general public.
This weekend's revival of the once revered competition sees seven proposed new Gaelic football rule changes trialled. Munster v Ulster, followed by Leinster v Connacht, is the order of play at Croke Park on Friday evening, before the final 24 hours later, with a third-play play-off also down for decision as a wider audience gets a chance to look at the proposed changes.
One v one throw-ins; changes to the kick-outs; restrictions on when a goalkeeper can receive a pass from a colleague; the 'solo-and-go'; four points for a goal and a new 'two-pointer'; keeping three players in half of the field at all times; an improved version of the advanced mark - a summary of what will be scrutinised on Jones' Road.
For the last few weeks players and management have been getting to grips with what's involved. So-called 'sandbox' games have been played, with squads being finalised for this weekend's fare.
At a Croke Park press briefing, three of the managers were present. An air of positivity certainly was the takeaway.
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Speaking to RTÉ Sport, Leinster boss Dessie Dolan beamed: "There are a lot of rules there but when you play the match and get on the pitch, the rules are really, really good. There are more opportunities and it's much better to watch as a spectacle. The player and the supporter will be delighted with the new rules."
As to which rule he liked the most, Dolan highlighted the one that is designed to limit congestion on the field.
"I think the three up top is really important," he added. "It gives the game back that structure because not everybody is back in that half of the pitch; we've seen that quite a lot. The penalty for that is quite severe. Defensively and offensively, keeping three players back means there is a lot more space around the pitch and if there is a lot more space, there is a lot more opportunities."
Ulster manager Kieran Donnelly (above) also highlighted the 'three up' proposal, when saying: "I do think it will lead to a free-flowing game and I think you'll find that within the pitch there will be be a better shape to the game with three up, so teams will be able to mix their play."
The stop-start nature of the game should be a thing of the past, according to the Fermanagh manager, as he gave an overall assessment of what is being trialled, while also airing the thoughts of his Ulster players.
"The game will be faster, more high-speed running from the players because the solo and go leads to that, the fact that the keeper can get out quicker leads to that as well. Teams will be able to push up and press teams in, that will also contribute to a quicker game.
"I do feel that the FRC as a group have done a tremendous job, we have the right people in the right place at a critical juncture for our game. I think the best way forward is to see how they play out at the weekend.
"They [the players] are excited by them. Certain rules they struggled to deal with at times. All in all they enjoyed the training sessions, there was a good flow to it. The games was fast and there was a lot more high-speed running.
"The solo-and-go was a big one and the fact that the keepers can get out quick, get their kicks-out away and find players, was also notable in our sessions. The kick to the three up front meant they could mix their play."
And while Galway manager Pádraic Joyce does not see a "whole pile wrong" with football at the moment, he, in the main, welcomes some of the proposed changes, while paying tribute to the work of the Football Review Committee.
"I think it has been very innovative, to be honest. Jim Gavin and his committee have put a lot of work into it. A couple of weeks ago Jim spoke to all the managers about the rules and he's now getting a great opportunity at the weekend to showcase the rules for the general public more so than anybody else.
"I don't think there's a whole pile wrong with the game, we've just had one of the most open championships but maybe we get stuff from this at the weekend that can further hep the game.
"Any rule that speeds the game up and make it more direct you would have to be in favour of. The three up top, I believe will help a lot of teams."
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