Seb Tape continued his rapid return to full fitness and form with a stand out performance for the Gold Coast SUNS NEAFL team against the UWS Giants on Saturday.

Tape was given a tough defensive assignment and challenged to shut down dangerous AFL veteran Setanta O’hAilpin, a job he did to near perfection.

Development Coach Andrew Johnston saying Tape’s performance could have him vying for a senior recall sooner than expected.

“I think he’s a chance sooner rather than later because of the amount of improvement he has shown since he first came back,” Johnston said.

“He was probably hesitating a little bit in his first game because he didn’t have the match fitness but the things he’s been able to achieve over the last three weeks has been sensational.”

The Full Back played a pivotal role deep in front of the Giant’s goal square, keeping 30-year-old O’hAilpin scoreless for the entire match and ensuring the 85-game journeyman had little influence on the contest.

“He work off the ball and body work on Setanta was really good,” Johnston said.

“He lined up on him for most of the day and kept O’hAilpin scoreless so there wasn’t much else we could have asked from him.”

But it will be easier said than done for the fearless 20-year-old, with Guy McKenna’s back-six having produced a tremendous premiership campaign at the half-way mark.

David Swallow and Sam Day have both relished their opportunities down back after a switch to defence, while Rory Thompson’s emergence as a genuine centre half-backman has those convinced around the League the Gold Coaster could be in line for a potential All-Australian selection at season’s end.

And although the off-season signings of Tom Murphy and Greg Broughton will make it more difficult for Tape to fight his way back into seniors, Johnston believes it will be difficult to ignore the key’s defenders serious bid for a first team call-up should he continue his hot-streak as Hart’s last line of defence.

“He’s absolutely putting his hand up so hopefully in the next few weeks he’ll be pushing forth a strong bid to play senior footy again because it’ll be a sensational story for him.”