Brandon Matera and Jarrod Harbrow will make their first appearances for the SUNS 2017 on Sunday.
The inaugural SUNS have been named starters in an extended 25-man squad ahead of Sunday’s clash against Hawthorn.
Harbrow has been named at back pocket, after enduring a delayed start to his 11th year in the AFL due to off-season ankle surgery.
Matera’s 31-diposal, four-goal performance for the SUNS' NEAFL side against GWS reserves last weekend has seen him rewarded with a senior call-up.
Captain Tom Lynch and fellow leader Michael Barlow set the tone at the start of the weel, with the latter speaking passionately about the players’ desire to turn things around with an adamant response against the Hawks at Metricon Stadium.
"We get to find out who wants to be a Gold Coast SUN," Barlow said.
"We're going to find out a lot about individuals and this team as a collective in the wake of this criticism.”
Brayden Fiorini and Jesse Lonerganalso come into round three calculations, with the pair named on an extended interchange alongside Ben Ainsworth, Jesse Joyce, Jack Leslie, Sean Lemmens and Alex Sexton.
Callum Ah Chee has been omitted from the 25-man squad, with a minimum of two further changes to come.
The 0-2 Hawks are also searching for their first premiership points for the season, dropping their opening games to Essendon and Adelaide.
Sunday’s fixture will be the third Hawks third trip to Metricon Stadium since the SUNS joined the competition in 2011.
goldcoastfc.com.au will publish the final 22-man team at 5pm on Friday.
Round 3 AFL Premiership Team
B: J. Harbrow, S. May, J. Bowes
HB: K. Kolodjashnij, R. Thompson, A. Saad
C: D. Swallow, G. Ablett, M. Rosa
HF: J. Lyons, T. Lynch, B. Matera
F: T. Miller, P. Wright, J. Martin
FOLL: J. Witts, M. Barlow, A. Hall
INT: A. Sexton, J. Lonergan, B. Fiorini, J. Leslie, S. Lemmens, B. Ainsworth, J. Joyce
IN: Harbrow, Matera, Lonergan, Fiorini
OUT: Ah Chee (omitted)
