With injuries and illness interrupting Kade Kolodjashnij’s pre-season, it has taken until round three for the Tasmanian to fully hit his straps.

But with the majority of the season ahead, the 2015 club champion runner-up is looking elite again, playing his customary quarterback-style role across half back that quickly turns defense into offense.

The rebounding defender finished last week’s 54-point win over Carlton with 26 disposals and a game-high 12 marks and will be looking to continue his good form against the Brisbane Lions this weekend.

READ: The evolution of Kade Kolodjashnij

“I missed NAB Cup, the last two games, with injury and obviously got ill in hospital and missed round one which was pretty disappointing,” Kolodjashnij told reporters at Metricon Stadium on Tuesday.

“But it’s good to get a couple of games under my belt now and hopefully I can continue that form and continue to improve every week.”

One of the keys to the SUNS keeping the QClash Cup at Metricon Stadium is minimising the influence of Brisbane’s ‘mosquito fleet’ consisting of dangerous small forwards Josh Green, Lewis Taylor and Dayne Zorko.

Kolodjashnij said the back six had a big focus on ‘defending first’ whilst still generating plenty of the rebound the SUNS backline is renowned for.

“I’ve played them a few times. I’ve played a bit of footy with Lewy Taylor growing up and they’re great players,” he said.

READ: Female talent on display at exhibition match

“They’ve got [Allen] Christensen down there, Josh Green as well a Tassie boy, so they’re a quick and lightning forward line and they like to get up the ground and work their way back into their forward 50 so we’re going to have to be on our game this weekend to stop them.

“We’ve got a massive focus this week to defend first on the body and win the footy and also provide that counter attack so it’s going to be very important to defend well this week.”