Tom Naylor is preparing to return to his roots at the heart of Burton Albion's defence this season.
The former Derby County man captained Albion from centre-back in the first half of Tuesday's 2-1 friendly win over Solihull Moors - and that is the position he has occupied so far this summer.
It was the role he originally started in as a senior footballer, before being moved to right-back with the Rams under Nigel Clough.
After arriving at Burton - first on a loan deal, and then permanently in the summer of 2015 - he was turned into an energetic central midfielder, with his knack for grabbing important goals a key factor in the Brewers' successful push for promotion to the Championship.
But his versatility has always remained, and Naylor was used in a variety of positions last term, including at full-back and in the middle of the Albion defence.
And a conversation with Clough at the end of last season means the 26-year-old is preparing to focus on life back in the defence this time around, with the Brewers boss suggesting that is the role he sees him in moving forward.
"We had a chat last game of the season after the Reading game, and he (Clough) said, 'I feel like I see you as a centre-half next year, see where we can play you'.
"Obviously over the last couple of games I've played at the back, and I've really enjoyed it.
"I have always had that in my game as a defender.
"I started as a centre-half and I went into the midfield over the last couple of years. Now I'm going back into centre-half, I know how to play there.
"I can read the game from there and I can play out as much as I can if it allows me - I really enjoy it."
Naylor certainly exhibited that ability to play out from the back against Solihull. Partnered with Ben Turner in a 4-4-2, Albion's skipper on the night regularly collected possession deep and then ran it out, often probing into Solihull territory in search of a final ball to unlock the home defence.
He was allowed to do that with the knowledge of Turner staying deep as cover.
Brewers pre-season
One of many things pre-season can offer the Burton players is that chance to form strong - and new partnerships - with others across the field, with Stephen Warnock and Jake Buxton - yet to play this summer - becoming new defensive acquisitions since May.
"I've played with Turns over the last couple of games, and then played with Fadz (Kyle McFadzean) against Mickleover," added Naylor.
"I have played with a few of them in defence last year, so I know how to play with them.
"But it's always nice to get other people in next to you. We need a strong partnership, and then we'll go from there."
There is certainly no shortage of options for Clough in central defence, with McFadzean, Turner, Naylor, Warnock, Buxton and captain John Mousinho all potentially vying for those spots.
