GUY McKenna knows this isn’t the same Gold Coast SUNS team that has struggled against Adelaide in the past, but the senior coach concedes the Crow’s impressive record against the kids from the Coast is an advantage for the visitors heading into Saturday’s Round 14 clash at Metricon Stadium.

“Adelaide certainly have the wood over us, each time they have played us it has been ten goal margins – so it’s going to be a good test for us to see how far we have moved forward,” said McKenna.

Both AFL middleweights fighting to play footy in September, a win this weekend will likely see the victory just four premiership points outside a place in the top eight.

“Adelaide are in a position where they are aiming for finals and I’d like to think we’re in a similar position too,” he said.

“We are equal on wins and losses, with only percentage separating us, but they certainly have some superstars which we will need to come up and match.”

Brownlow Medal fancy Patrick Dangerfield and star midfielders Nathan Van Berlo and Scott Thompson are among the elite ball winners Crows Head Coach Brenton Sanderon has at his coaching disposal.

McKenna believes for the SUNS not to get over run around the stoppages, his own elite class of midfielders will need to get their hands on the contested football early.

“We need to deny them the footy,” said McKenna.

“Paddy Dangerfield, Nathan Van Berlo and Scotty Thompson – they have a good core midfield, so our best form of defence will be our ability to attack.

“We are coming up against a well coached, hard bodied side, so we have to physically go in there and match it against them.”

Centre half-back Rory Thompson is a chance to take on Crow’s power forward Josh Jenkins, with the 198cm key forward having had to shoulder most of the load around goals with Sanderson now without Kurt Tippett (defected to Sydney) or Taylor Walker (ACL Injury).

But McKenna isn’t worried, with the Gold Coaster having already shown he can match it with the game’s biggest star forwards.

“He’s probably no different to Gary now, you get amazed at Gary’s performances and I think that’s the beauty of us moving forward because collective we are beginning to stand up,” McKenna said.

“He’s (Thompson) has been the first to put his hand up in Bock’s absence but he’s defending a lot better because of the pressure that has been applied up the ground, so from a coaching stand point that has been great to see.”

“We’ve seen what it takes for a team to win games of football and the lads understanding that very quickly.”