The Gold Coast SUNS are ready to claim more top eight scalps this season, and assistant coach Dean Solomon gives his side a big chance of knocking off Richmond after seeing the Tigers in action first-hand last week.

 Only once – against Collingwood in 2013 – have the SUNS beaten a top eight side, but Solomon is confident his chargers can more than match it with the big guns of the AFL this season.

“I think every club in the competition will be thinking the same, but three years have gone past now and this is our fourth,” Solomon told SEN Radio.

“It’s time to start moving up that ladder, stay in the game for longer periods of time. So hopefully we can start heading north of the premiership table.” 

The SUNS jumped from three wins to eight victories last campaign, but Solomon knows a strong start will be easier said than done after watching the Tigers roar into the season proper with a convincing victory over Essendon in their final trial match.

“I flew down Friday to watch them play against the Bombers and they look very sharp,” he said.

“They are always a really good stoppage side, their numbers are great around that area of the ground, but I think their offensive and defensive game plan really exposed the Bombers, so it’s going to be a tough challenge.”

Midfield stars Gary Ablett, Jaeger O’Meara and Dion Prestia completed Wednesday’s main training session, and will be crucial to matching prime movers Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio and Dustin Martin around the contested football.

Forwards Tom Lynch and Brandon Matera are expected to make their long-awaited return from injury, after missing a bulk of the 2013 with a strained posterior cruciate ligament and ankle surgery, respectively.