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Cameron Shepherd looking forward to 2008 Super 14s | PerthNow
THERE'S only a couple of weeks before we get back into the real thing, writes Western Force fullback Cameron Shepherd in his first PerthNow column.
But before we get to South Africa, we've got trial matches against the Crusaders in Melbourne on Saturday and then in Perth against the Reds.
Last year in Melbourne wasn't too good for me. I ended up with a big split on my head that needed eight or nine stiches. I'm hoping to get out unhurt and keep all my blood.
All the boys are looking forward to Saturday night and one of the great things is that all the Western Force Wallabies have been training with the group pretty much since November.
There's a real chemistry in the side. Everyone's in great shape physically, but there's a real feeling that the boys want to play for each other.
There's been some pretty intensive training sessions, especially when we've been doing grappling full combat .
We've been beating up on ourselves and each other, but we know that at the end of the day it's for the team.
I had a fantastic time on Australia Day. I went to Albert Park in Scarborough with Drew Mitchell, Scott Daruda, Richard Brown, Tom Hockings and a few of the academy boys.
A mate of Brownie's had set up a huge 50m slippery water slide down a hill.
Drewie and Brownie are like big kids anyway, but I must admit I couldn't resist it either. We stripped down to the boardies, a lady covered us in detergent and off we went.
Drew's got these bright-green small European Speedo's. Luckily they're not quite budgie smugglers, but they are becoming pretty notorious in Scarborough since he unveiled them a couple of weeks ago at the beach volleyball.
Drew loves attention and let me tell you he got it with those Speedos! Watch out for them if you're down Scarborough way
There was a big crowd of people at the park really enjoying themselves with their families.
They'd got the backyard cricket sets out and dragged out the kids' paddling pools, Eskys and the barbecues.
It's always hard when you leave home and move to another state, but it was like being with a big family on Saturday.
The way we've been accepted here is fantastic, everyone's so nice.
A bunch of dads brought their kids over and we had a great time passing the ball around with them, showing them different kicks and just having fun.
Things like that make it a lot easier when you haven't got your family around you.
But we're back to the hard work again and as I said before, we can't wait for the real thing to start.
Was the wait worth it - Ya betta baby 
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