Ordinarily, Robert Mathis wouldn’t be amped for a preseason game.

But Sunday’s opener is an exception.

When St. Louis visits Lucas Oil Stadium for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff, it will provide fans — and coaches — their first game-situation glimpse of the new Indianapolis Colts.

Mathis, one of the few remaining veterans from the Peyton Manning era, is eager to make a good first impression.

“It’s not just a first preseason game, it’s a first stepping stone to what we’re trying to get accomplished, and that’s to go as far as we want to go,” Mathis said, voicing a common sentiment on a revamped team that, despite low outside projections, expects to give fans more than advertised.

The exhibition-opener is its first opportunity to try.

“We’re going to be exciting. There’s just great energy, great enthusiasm,” offensive guard Joe Reitz said. “We had it since we started back in April. It’s been way ramped up in (training) camp.

“I think we’ve had a great camp, overall, as a team.”

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