Luke Braid describes this year's Super rugby season as a roller-coaster ride full of ups and downs.
With only four wins from 16 games it's fair enough to say there were probably more downs than ups.
But the Blues' captain was one of the only shining lights in a season full of doom and gloom for the Auckland-based franchise.
The loose forward returns to the Steamers today, for another ITM Cup campaign and the 23-year-old is hoping to end his 2012 season on a better note.
Bay of Plenty's season kicks off against old rivals Taranaki at Baypark Stadium today.
The Steamers have won three from three in the preseason buildup and Braid said he was enjoying wearing the blue and gold jersey once more.
"I'm loving being back, it's been a bit of a roller-coaster ride with the Blues but hopefully I'll have a good season with the Steamers."
Although the Steamers have looked solid in their last three hit-outs, they come up against a solid looking Taranaki side who will test Braid and his loose forward partners Warren Lippi-Smith and Carl Axtens.
Braid said the side had been working hard on combinations leading up to today's encounter.
"It's [been] good getting through our systems and working through our combinations as a team ... We've had [three] games so it's been a pretty good buildup, quite a lot of the boys are coming off a whole Super season and guys that played club have had their time to do conditioning with the trainers, so every one's up for the Naki."
The Steamers have a solid front row in Greg Pleasants-Tate, Dan Perrin and Tristan Moran. The trio will get a good test against Taranaki's Chris King, Timo Tutavaha and Michael Bent.
It's expected to be a tight battle in the tall timber department with Culum Retallick and Leon Power going up against Taranaki captain Jason Eaton and James Broadhurst.
Both sides have quality in the loose forwards, with Bay of Plenty coach Kevin Schuler resisting the temptation to start Tanerau Latimer alongside Luke Braid, opting instead for Warren Lippi-Smith and Carl Axtens.
The Steamers will be led by halfback Jamie Nutbrown who continues his combination with playmaker Chris Noakes at first-five.
Making their debut for the Steamers is centre Mafi Kefu and pace man Kendrick Lynn.
Both impressed in the Bay sides pre-season hit-outs, with Lynn scoring a try against a North Harbour XV, in last week's final pre-season game at Katikati.
Lynn joins try-scoring machine Lelia Masaga and New Zealand Sevens player Jack Wilson in the back three.
The visitors are equally impressive in the backs with young halfback Jamison Gibson-Park making his ITM Cup debut inside Beauden Barrett with Jayden Hayward and Kurt Baker the midfield combination.
Taranaki coach Colin Cooper has opted for Waisake Naholo and Frazier Climo on the wings with Andre Taylor being given the No 15 jersey.
Kickoff is at 2.35pm.
North Harbour head coach Liam Barry has named a strong team for his side's ITM Cup opener against Waikato in Albany tomorrow, with plenty of Super rugby experience on show and seven players set to make their starting debuts.
Western Force and former Australia under-20s prop Salesi Manu forms a formidable front row with co-captains for the season in hooker James Parsons and prop Ben Afeaki.
Parsons stepped up well to Super Rugby for the first time this year with the Blues, while powerhouse Afeaki was part of the victorious Chiefs team.
No8 Jim Tuivaiti had a solid club season with champions Western Pioneers and replaces the injured Solomon King.
There will be great interest in the new combination of New Zealand under-20s captain, and halfback, Bryn Hall and Blues first-five Michael Hobbs who will be expected to run Harbour plays.
The powerful midfield combination of Blues second-five Francis Saili and former Bay of Plenty centre Cory Aporo has an explosive quality to it, with both players outstanding at breaking tackles.