Hard running Gold Coast SUNS defender Joel Wilkinson’s anticipated battle against Brisbane midfielder Dayne Zorko tonight could be the turning point the Gold Coaster needs to revive his 2013 Premiership Season, according to senior coach Guy McKenna.

“He’s done some reasonable jobs on small-forwards in the past,” McKenna told reporters on Friday.

“He played a fantastic role on Steven Motlop in Geelong, and while he hasn’t been setting the world alight his history on some of the other brassy forwards and his recent performance on Zorko has certainly given him the nod to stay in the side.”

Wilkinson, 21, was rewarded with two Club Championship points for his defensive efforts against Zorko when the two former Broadbeach teammates met in Round 3 at Metricon Stadium.

The match has arguably been Wilkinson’s best game for the season, after minimising the impact the Lion’s rookie-of-the-year had on the contest.

And while the Michael Voss’ young gun was defensively sound against the Hawthorn in Tasmania last weekend, sticking a team-high 8 tackles, the Gold Coast-born Zorko will need to show much more hunger against Wilkinson after a lackluster performance with the football only say him collect 7 touches for the afternoon.

And after speaking with reporters at the GABBA on Friday afternoon, the 24-year-old conceded the Gold Coasters were entering tonight’s contest as the better team.

"We want to be the dominant side in Queensland, and Gold Coast are probably going better than us," he said.

"I think every time you play them it's even. It's a rivalry we want to keep growing."