RICHMOND defender Bachar Houli is hoping the Tiger’s nightmarish record against the Gold Coast SUNS does not come back to haunt them this Saturday night, as the Gold Coasters look to secure the hat-trick over the premiership hopefuls in their third and final clash at Cazaly’s Stadium. 

"We've got a massive challenge against Gold Coast, who we haven't had a good run against,” Houli told reporters at the Multicultual Round launch on Monday.

"At the end of the day if you don't bring your attitude and intensity you're not going to get the job done, so that's our biggest focus this week.”

The Gold Coasters have beaten the AFL powerhouse in each of their past encounters in Cairns, with prolific midfielder Karmichael Hunt piercing the dagger in the heart of the yellow and black faithful last year after becoming just the 33^rd player in AFL history to kick a winning goal after-the-siren. 

The two-point SUNS victory all but sank Damien Hardwick’s hopes of playing finals footy, with the defeat still likely burning in the chest of every Tiger fan around the country. 

And after suffering yet another setback in their pursuit towards a finals campaign following their 62-point loss to North Melbourne last week, the Gold Coasters will be expecting a more competitive Tigers outfit this weekend.  

However, the Tigers will be given a major confidence booster in the lead-up to the Round 16 clash in the tropics, with key ruckman Ivan Maric expected to make his return to senior football after missing consecutive matches against Western Bulldogs and St. Kilda with groin strain. 

Meanwhile, rising midfielder Daniel Jackson is also expected to be passed fit this week despite sustaining an ankle injury against the Kangaroos at Eithad Stadium.