By Michael Whiting
Gold Coast SUNS midfielder Sam Iles says the GC SUNS are excited, not nervous, about testing themselves against Geelong in what will also be a christening of Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.
The GC SUNS trained for the first time under lights at their new home on Wednesday night and Iles said they were looking forward to taking on the unbeaten Cats.
He said there was pressure in any game, but nothing extra this time because of the significance of the occasion.
"I wouldn't say added pressure, I reckon excitement," Iles said.
"We're going to have a full stadium, majority supporting us, which is going to be fantastic.
"I think all the boys are looking forward to it. We had a training run on their last night and it's a good deck."
The GC SUNS had a huge build-up for their opening game of the season in round two against Carlton and fizzled with a 119-point loss.
On that occasion the lead-in included a round one bye, and despite an identical scenario this time, Iles said that would not be an issue.
"We're a young group, enthusiastic group that wants to test themselves against the best," he said.
"[There's] been a bit written about us against Carlton in round one and we weren't great but we've come a long way. We've had a few meetings this week on how far we've come since round one and some of those stats were pretty good.
"Everyone is going pretty well. The feeling around the group is everyone's fresh because we've had the weekend off and obviously the big game at the new stadium and there's going to be a big crowd supporting us so everyone's looking forward to it."
Iles has been a terrific midfield contributor since playing his first match of the season in the first-up win over Port Adelaide in round five.
He played seven games for Collingwood in 2006-07 before being given a second chance with the GC SUNS.
Iles has averaged almost 18 disposals a game and has booted three goals in his four matches to this season.
"From all the games we've played this year I think we've started pretty well," he said.
"I think it's just that consistency of getting four quarters across the board. It's not like everyone starts well just to play the first quarter well, you need a four quarter effort but I think it's just the intensity for four quarters.
"Hopefully the crowd can get behind us … and fingers crossed we're in it for a long way and the crowd can be that 19th player."