Munster GAA are consulting with counties whether to schedule their pre-season competitions now that the one-year suspension of them has elapsed.
The Gaelic Players Association are looking for those provincial tournaments to be developmental and not involving any "front-line" players such as O'Connor from this past season.
Regardless, the Austin Stacks man would prefer Kerry's opening fixture of 2026 to be the first round of the National League at the end of January.
"Just keep it the way it is and train away for the league," said O'Connor. "I just think there's enough competitions and it's probably a time where players can just focus on getting a pre-season in. If it was there, I'm sure it wouldn't be a big issue as a couple of games to get you ready for the league. It's nice to just have a block where you can focus on training."
O'Connor is fully supportive of Kerry's decision to arrange their team holiday to the US earlier this usual in late October and early November.
"It's probably (done) to just get back and get a bit of pre-season done and be ready to go. It's important to get a good pre-season, especially with the new rules. The body needs to be in a good place for the league."
The 26-year-old can understand why Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford players have taken exception to Kerry and Cork receiving byes in separate Munster semi-finals.
"They obviously might see that as a bit of insult towards them or whatever. They want to be competing in the big days."
O'Connor had a stunning 2025 and is expected to be in the conversation for footballer of the year alongside David Clifford in the coming weeks. From the first to final whistle, he was an ever-present in the team.
If 2024 was about being available more after his cruciate tear, this season was about taking it up another level.
"I probably felt like last year I was in my shell a bit and I knew there was probably more in me and that's kind of what motivated me for the winter.
"I just felt like I wasn't playing at the level I could play at and that was my main motivator really, to go after it for the season just gone and it was up and down or whatever but I was happy with how it panned out."
You will hear few complaints in Kerry about the experimental rules, which are expected to made permanent at Special Congress next month, certainly none from O'Connor who flourished under them.
"Any kind of attack-minded players benefitted from it. It's something that was probably in me, to go and try to attack as much as I can. I suppose it could be frustrating last year and stuff when teams were very defensive. It was hard to get those one-on-ones, or those really open attacks.
"It's great to play in now as well. It's been great for us and every team really. It's much better to watch and as a player it's much more enjoyable. So we're all kind of loving it."