Flanagan will be in charge of a Sharks team for the first time since their 2013 semi-final loss to Manly. It is easy to forget Cronulla were just two games away from a grand final appearance that year.

Since returning to Cronulla as head coach in November, Flanagan has kept a low profile but he is adamant the team – and the club – has moved on from the two-year drug scandal that threatened to destroy the Sharks. Flanagan, Paul Gallen, Anthony Tupou and Wade Graham all make their comebacks for the Sharks this weekend.

In a rare interview before his return to the coaches' box on Sunday night following his 11-month ban, Flanagan opens up about his desire to rejuvenate the Sharks. "The whole club has changed," he said. "I've changed the way we do things and the processes [in which] we do things. I've learnt a lot from what's happened. We've come to training and put it all behind us and we've learnt from what's happened.

"I don't know if [the players] have grown but they've learnt about professional sport and being involved in a professional sport and handling a lot of the dramas that go with it [such as] off-field behaviour, getting up and dealing with the external pressures. Some of the fringe players who wouldn't have played first grade last year, we advanced them quicker than normal so the club is better off now. You can see a little bit of that.

"We're all a little bit more balanced. We are more understanding of the role of the media plays, how important our fan base is in relation to the club in behaviour and looking after our club as a brand."

Flanagan is unsure how he will feel when he strolls into Remondis Stadium and addresses his charges before kick-off. But he knows any emotion will be shortlived should his team be upset by the Raiders. "I'm looking forward to it," Flanagan said. "I'd prefer to wake up Monday morning and be really excited. Sunday doesn't really worry me, Monday is more important to be excited and bounce into work. The pre-season does drag out but it's here upon us now.

"There's been a buzz about the place since November. We're looking forward and everyone has had a great attitude. We're not looking back, we're looking forward."

Keen to move forward, Flanagan does not want to lose aspects of Cronulla's past which made them such a competitive squad. Tough but dour football has been part of Cronulla's make-up in recent seasons but Flanagan hopes the addition of Ben Barba, Gerard Beale and Mitch Brown will help reshape the squad.

"I don't want to lose the ability to be a strong defensive team and grind teams down," Flanagan said. "If we can have some finesse and class – which I think we have with some of our backs – we've got some flair in attack now which important.

"I want to be that hard, tough footy side as well. I would like to think that we can grind teams away. Not too many teams can grind people away and beat teams like that but on other days be flashy and skilful and put teams away because of that. I'm just looking forward to seeing this team evolve. We won't be at our best in round one but the team will evolve."

Much of Cronulla's success with the ball will rest on the shoulders of Barba's combination with halves partner Jeff Robson. Flanagan said Barba would need time to be at his best.

"We know Benny is going to grow," Flanagan said. "We're not saying he needs to win the game for us."