George Boyd lets out a laugh when asked if he's worried about blistering up.
The former Premier League midfielder retired back in 2021 and has kept himself ticking over with five-a-side matches with friends every Thursday night. It's all a far cry from the glitz and the glamour of this million-dollar, high-intensity tournament in the US.
Boyd has been roped in as one of Wrexham's guest stars for this tournament, largely down to his friendship with the Welsh side's player-manager, David Jones, who he played with at both Burnley and Sheffield Wednesday.
'Dave brought it up and I just jumped at the chance,' Boyd tells Mail Sport from Cary, North Carolina.
'It's just really exciting to get a chance to to play football again.'
And the opening game brings with it one of the toughest assignments in Como 1907 - a side led by former Arsenal and Barcelona superstar Cesc Fabregas.
Fabregas is the stand-out name on any roster at the event but Boyd has come up against the Spaniard previously in the Premier League when Burnley took on Chelsea in 2017 and is unfazed.
In fact it is one of Fabregas' Como team-mates this week that has peaked Boyd's interest more.
'It's going to be some special games for the fans watching,' Boyd said.
'Fabregas, and Steve Nash as well. I'm a big basketball fan, so it'll be great to see him.'
Could he really have pictured a matter of months ago the idea of playing in midfield in a US-based tournament against a former two-time NBA league MVP? In short: not a chance.
'I've heard he's quite good! He loves his soccer, loves his football and so that will be interesting to see how good he is.'
Wrexham are one of the star draws to this event this week, not least because of their promotion back to the Football League after a 15-year exile, but also because of the reach of co-chairmen Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in expanding the fan-base.
For Boyd, it is a once in a lifetime experience and one he is determined to soak every minute up from.
Wrexham, who are in a mini-group with Como 1907, US Women and Say Word FC, enjoyed a first training session together on Wednesday and were in good spirits.
But it is the absorption of the various quirky rules that has been the biggest training exercise in recent days and weeks.
No throw-ins; no slide tackles; smaller goals; unlimited rolling subs; two 20-minute halves; target score in extra time to secure victory. There's a lot.
The Soccer Tournament, or TST as it's known, follows a World Cup style format with the 32 teams split into groups for the 7-a-side event and of the eight groups of four the top two from each will advance.
But with punishments aplenty for any infringing of the rules, it has been made clear to Boyd and his players, you best make sure you know this rulebook cover to cover come the first whistle against Fabregas and Nash.
'David's been getting it drilled into us in the last few days of what to do,' he said. 'No slide tackles and it's a very fast pace.
'Everyone will have [the rules] on lock on the day day or he'll be a very annoyed manager!'
TST’s $1million tournament gets underway today with Wrexham in action at 6.30pm BST against Como 1907. The match is available to watch on Peacock in the United States and on YouTube for international fans