The Gold Coast SUNS reserves will be out to squeeze the life of out the UWS Giants this weekend in a bid to ensure their competition rival is denied time and space around the uncontested football, according to NEAFL coach Shaun Hart. 

While the NEAFL SUNS winning record (4-3) illustrate Hart’s charges are a much-improved unit in 2013, raw emotions from the side’s consecutive defeats to the Giants in their previous encounters is likely to see the in-form SUNS apply as much scoreboard pressure as possible after their 79-point demolition against Morningside at Jack Esplen Oval.

“They beat us twice last year and they were reasonably close games for us,” Hart said.

However, Hart understands it won’t be easy boarding the flight down south to Blacktown this weekend, with the Giant’s likely to come out firing with a much more-competitive effort after their disappointing 90-point loss to Brisbane Lions seconds.

“It’s a really good opportunity for our guys to really test themselves against a side that is most like them in the AFL,” said Hart.

“They’re in the same boat as us, they’ve got some younger guys who aren’t quite yet making the seniors and a few older heads – they’ve certainly got a pretty strong list of talent from around Australia.”

The NEAFL side will also be given a significant boast of confidence to their already-experienced defensive structures, with fearless backman Seb Tape set to begin his journey back to the AFL as he returns from a ACL injury that has seen him missing in action for the past twelve months.

Hart said Tape’s return would be a significant inclusion for his young and talented playing group, with the 20-year-old likely to inject himself early in the contest after waiting patiently on the wings for an opportunity to taste competitive football.

“He’s just a great team player, and brings that edge to every game because the result means so much to him,” Hart said.

“He brings that every time he competes and that’s what he’s going to add to our group, we’re really looking forward to seeing him bring an effort that other players can grow off and see what’s expected from them.”

With senior-listed players Jeremy Taylor, Clay Cameron, Daniel Gorringe and Joel Wilkinson among the side’s back-six that stood tall against the Panthers, Hart said he was hoping for a similar performance from his experienced defensive unit.

“Our team defence was excellent last week and we need to see that come again both in close and our effort on the ball carrier,” Hart said.

“We need to be very good at both of those because they’re a very good running side that like time and space so we need to make sure we deny them of that.”