Gold Coast has bounced back from one mauling this season, and coach Guy McKenna expects another positive response after Saturday night's thumping from Hawthorn.

The SUNS were still licking their wounds on Tuesday after the 99-point hiding from the Hawks, but McKenna said they had learnt plenty of lessons and were ready to apply them against Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday.

In round two, Fremantle ran over the SUNS on a wet night at Patersons Stadium to win by 48 points.

The following week, Gold Coast responded by dismantling the Brisbane Lions and winning by 61 points.

This time it was the premier Hawthorn handed out the lessons, and McKenna said the SUNS would again be quick learners.

"Obviously we got another lesson. It went up to another level against Hawthorn." McKenna said on Tuesday afternoon.

"I'd expect a response again, like we got for Brisbane."

Vice-captain Dion Prestia spoke in a leadership meeting about the extra intensity Hawthorn brought to Metricon Stadium on Saturday night, and McKenna reiterated it was a level the SUNS aspired to.

"If you want to play finals and you want to get better, you've got to be harder, you've got to be running harder, you've got to be hitting harder, you've got to get your skills better… they were taught that lesson," he said.

"To hear the playing group speak of that, certainly Dion, it says the lessons were well learnt and now we've got to put them in practice for the rest of the season."

That starts with Melbourne, who notched its first win under new coach Paul Roos at the weekend, with a morale-boosting triumph over Carlton.

The Demons also have former SUNS development coach Ben Mathews on the coaching staff, which McKenna expects to help shed some light on Gold Coast’s players.

"Clearly the side we played last year (and beat twice) will be vastly different to the one we play this year," he said.

"They're coming off a win, differently coached, a lot more intelligence on our boys because of Ben Mathews … they're certainly going to be a handful that's for sure."

Clay Cameron will be missing with a shoulder injury, but the SUNS will welcome back Brandon Matera from suspension.

McKenna said Karmichael Hunt might be in contention if he passed a concussion test after being knocked out in the reserves at the weekend.

However, last week the SUNS coach said Hunt needed more match fitness, and after just two quarters at the weekend, he would seem to still be short of a run.

Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting