Gold Coast full-back Rory Thompson says he has no concerns over a lack of match fitness ahead of his season opener on Saturday against Fremantle.
Thompson did not play in the NAB Challenge and has just one reserves game under his belt after an off-season arthroscopy on his hip and recent gastro bug bit into his 2014 preparation.
But returning against one of the premiership fancies on the vast expanses of Patersons Stadium doesn't worry 23-year-old.
"It's obviously not ideal, but I've done a fair bit of work over the back half of the pre-season and I'll be right to go," Thompson said before boarding the SUNS' flight from Brisbane to Perth on Thursday morning.
"The first game of the year is always going to be tough on everyone; it takes a while to get your legs run in.
"I think I've done a fair bit of work so it shouldn't be too bad."
Thompson established himself as one of Gold Coast's most important players in 2013, finishing fourth in the best and fairest after a stellar season in the last line of defence.
He was able to contain hulking forwards such as Travis Cloke and go with the more mobile big men including Nick Riewoldt.
Thompson played more than three quarters of the SUNS' reserves game two weeks ago and said the hip gave him no troubles.
"It's been really good for the last month or two and no injury concerns at all," he said.
"It's mainly been fitness focus over the last month or two."
He is likely to spend time on Matthew Pavlich and Chris Mayne on Saturday, but said the SUNS' backline, which coped so well in round one against Richmond, would stand up well.
"They have a really dangerous mix of smalls and talls, but nothing we haven't faced before."
