My seal leaking badly, one of the reasons I dropped tranny ( clean up etc easier)

Selector shaft replacement, need confirm 

Select neutral
Remove shift shaft cover from drivers side
Tap shaft to cover side
I guess remove and have a look
Pull seal from other side
Now…

Should I insert seal into tranny and then push shaft back thru? 
Or
Push shaft thru then insert seal

I’m leaning to the latter , just because of less chance of damaging seal with shaft.

Thanks

Alistair