The top two contested ball winning sides will do battle at Metricon Stadium on Saturday when the Gold Coast SUNS host Melbourne in Round 8 of the AFLW.
The SUNS will take confidence out of strong 34-point win over Sydney Swans last week in wet conditions.
While they now have a tough task of facing one of the form teams in the competition in the Demons, SUNS Captain Tara Bohanna is confident her side can match it with the best.
“Every week we’re getting better with our pressure acts and being more consistent with it, we really pride ourselves in that area,” Bohanna said.
“We’re number 1 and they’re number 2, so it should be a good hitout and in good conditions we should be able to bring out our best in that space.
“It’s a really exciting opportunity for us to play against a really good team.
“We’ve had some tough contests against Brisbane and North [Melbourne] but we’ve built a lot of momentum since then and I think we’re in a really good spot.”
SUNS have won three of their past four games, falling only to Richmond in a heated match that went down to the wire.
Bohanna said her team has proven their brand of football holds up against any opponent and the players need to enter each new match with a sense of urgency and determination.
“We knew going into the Swans we couldn’t be complacent - we’re still pushing to be consistent in playing our best footy,” Bohanna said.
“It was good to get the win – good for morale, good for the vibes as well.
“Our ability to get to the contest and have numbers at the ball at every opportunity was really good and we’re starting to build that connection with the mids… and the entries into the forward line are improving as well.
“Leading into Melbourne [we now have] a great contest ahead of us.”
Time together as a group and strengthening connections has also led to the SUNS achieving a club record four wins this AFLW season.
Bohanna wants to see her side increase that number across the next three rounds to really solidify the evolution and improvement of this group as they look to a possible finals berth.
“It’s really a great achievement as a club for us to reach four wins,” she said.
“Going into the next three weeks it’s an exciting opportunity to get more wins on the board hopefully and show the club is progressing in our development.”
The team will don its Pride Guernsey in this Saturday night’s clash against Melbourne at Metricon Stadium. Tickets are available here with gates opening at 6pm.
