The Gold Coast SUNS could have their three-pronged tall forward setup this weekend for the first time since round 2, but just as critical as having marking options in the forward 50 will be the silver service from the midfield.

With Charlie Dixon in line to make his comeback from a groin complaint, the GC SUNS midfield has a plethora of options when delivering the ball to the forward line.

Tom Lynch and Sam Day have both posted career-best hauls in the past month, and the latter said he has reaped the rewards of better quality service from the middle of the ground. 

“It’s definitely stepped up this year,” Day said.

“We’ve been working hard this pre-season and still working on it through the year to make sure the last kick entering the forward line is the one that that hits so we as forwards can have a chance to mark it and then convert it into a goal.

“So it has been a big emphasis and I think you could see that last week with Lynch kicking a bag last weekend and myself hitting the scoreboard as I have this season.”

What has also helped has been the greater quantity of goalkickers this season.

David Swallow is just one example, with the combative on-baller already surpassing his season tally of three goals from 2013 with seven six-pointers in the opening half-a-dozen rounds of this campaign. 

The SUNS will have their work cut out for them across the ground, though, this Sunday, as the players prepare to match the expected pressure put on them by finals hopeful, North Melbourne, at Etihad Stadium.

“North are going to be a good benchmark for where we want to be this year as well, so it’s going to be a good challenge to see where we are at,” Day said.

“I think we will end up in similar spots on the table and hopefully we can match it inside in the midfield and win our forward and back battles to take the win, and our first at Etihad.

“Hopefully we can go down there and beat them clean, crack in like we want to do and get the result we want.”