There are no two ways about it – August is set to be a season-defining month of football for the Gold Coast SUNS.

Looking back, the team couldn’t have pictured a more remarkable start to their push into July.

With zero rotations on the interchange bench, Gold Coast played out the final 50 minutes of its round sixteen clash against Collingwood without Charlie Dixon (calf), Trent McKenzie (hamstring) and Sean Lemmens (concussion), while the team also lost Gary Ablett in the third quarter in what would later be confirmed by leading specialists as a season-ending shoulder injury.

Despite having all odds against it, Guy McKenna’s finals-ambitious playing group produced arguably the most inspired team effort in a fourth quarter the AFL has seen in recent seasons.

But while the game promised to be making of football club, consecutive losses to lesser lights Western Bulldogs and the Brisbane Lions now have the SUNS languishing in ninth place as the hunt for a spot in September intensifies for teams lingering outside the top eight.

Can Gold Coast book a maiden finals berth with a run home against St Kilda, Carlton, Port Adelaide, Essendon and West Coast?

goldcoastfc.com.au previews the month ahead.

Round 19 v St Kilda, Saturday 2 August
Metricon Stadium, 7:40pm AEST

Tom Lynch and Harley Bennell kicked seven goals between them against the Saints in Round 9.

St Kilda might be sitting on the bottom of the premiership table, but don’t be fooled. The Saints have shown their best football is capable of matching the AFL’s best, as was seen in their most recent performance when they destroyed top-four heavyweight Fremantle by 58 points at Etihad Stadium.

Gold Coast will still fancy its chances against St Kilda, though, with the SUNS having won eight of their last ten matches at Metricon Stadium.

They’ll have to do it without their skipper, though. Gary Ablett racked up 37 possessions in the side’s 38-point win over the Saints in round nine earlier this season, but will miss the rest of the season after shoulder surgery.

Last time we met:
Gold Coast SUNS 19.11 (125) d. St Kilda 13.9 (87)
Etihad Stadium (Round 9, 2014)

Round 20 v Carlton, Saturday 9 August
Etihad Stadium, 2:10pm AEST

Midfielder Matt Shaw on the burst against Carlton in 2013.

Carlton can expect Gold Coast to come out firing on all cylinders when the Queenslanders fly south to take on the Blues in round 20 at Etihad Stadium.

Having won consecutive matches at Docklands this season against St Kilda and North Melbourne earlier this year, the GC SUNS will be able to draw on plenty of positives going in to the game.

Young guns Dion Prestia and David Swallow and Co. have consistently shown throughout their breakout campaigns that they are more than capable of leading Gold Coast’s midfield department, and will need to do just that if the SUNS are to claim a much-needed victory at Etihad Stadium.

Last time we met:
Carlton 16.24 (120) d. Gold Coast SUNS 11.11 (77)
Metricon Stadium (Round 18, 2013)

Round 21 v Port Adelaide, Saturday 16 August
Metricon Stadium, 2:10pm AEST

Jarrod Harbrow in possession of the footy against Port Adelaide.

Arguably the side’s toughest test in the month ahead, Gold Coast’s round 21 match against Port Adelaide could determine the club’s finals fate, should the senior squad be able to push past St Kilda and Carlton in coming weeks.

While many AFL analysts believe fifth-ranked Power has the weaponry to fight its way back into the top four, the South Australian powerhouse’s recent record should give the SUNS a glimmer of hope, with the men from Alberton having lost three of their past four games, all to sides below them on the premiership table.

Last time we met:
Port Adelaide 16.17 (113) d. Gold Coast SUNS 14.12 (96)
AAMI Stadium (Round 21, 2013)

Round 22 v Essendon, Saturday 23 August
Etihad Stadium, 2:10pm AEST

Steven May gets away from Jake Carlisle with a clearing kick from defence.

While the travel to Etihad Stadium no longer daunts Gold Coast, round 22 promises to be one of the most anticipated matches for 2014.

Essendon have stamped their mark as legitimate finals contenders, and will be looking to push on to September with a strong performance against the SUNS.

Jaeger O’Meara came of age the last time the two sides met, notching his first 30 possession-performance against the red and black.

The reigning Ron Evans Medal winner has continued his stunning form in his sophomore season, and alongside Dion Prestia, Harley Bennell and David Swallow, could be key to Gold Coast’s chances of success.

Last time we met:
Essendon 17.13 (115) d. Gold Coast SUNS 11.6 (72)
Etihad Stadium (Round 12, 2013)

Round 23 v West Coast Eagles, Sunday 31 August
Metricon Stadium, 1:10pm AEST

Dion Prestia celebrates a goal against West Coast in Round 13.

In what nearly became the biggest comeback of the season, the Gold Coast will be out to reverse the result from this year’s round 13 encounter when the SUNS fell by three points to West Coast at Patersons Stadium.

While the game was never Gold Coast’s to be won, the Queenslanders mounted six unanswered goals in the final term to chase down a 35-point lead established in the third quarter.

While the team wasn’t able to kick the winning score before the final siren sounded, Guy McKenna’s charges took plenty of positives from the brilliant football that was produced in the deciding period, taking in a full head of confidence into their following game against Geelong, which saw the side comfortably beat Gary Ablett’s old team by 40-points at Metricon Stadium.

Should Gold Coast remain in the hunt for a top eight berth, this game will have an extraordinary amount of significance riding on the final result.

Last time we met:
West Coast 15.13 (103) d. Gold Coast SUNS 15.10 (100)
Patersons Stadium (Round 12, 2014)