With a six-day turnaround between the opening two NAB Challenge fixtures, Gold Coast has sent a very inexperienced side to Blacktown to face Greater Western Sydney on Saturday afternoon.
 
16 players set to play against the Giants have played 20 games or less, with seven players yet to make their debut at AFL level.
 
Prized recruit Nick Malceski will play his second game for the SUNS, with last season’s best and fairest recipient David Swallow also set for his second outing of the pre-season.

Ruck battle set to heat up in Blacktown

The ruck battle at Metricon Stadium will continue to intensify on Saturday afternoon with both Zac Smith and Tom Nicholls set to mount their case for the No. 1 mantle. Smith has already put some runs on the board following his dominant performance against the Cats last week, which prompted Rodney Eade to label him as the SUNS' best player in the opening NAB Challenge fixture. A posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury ended Nicholls' 2014 season in round seven, but after a strong pre-season the tap ruckman will be looking to get his season off on the right note against an inexperienced Giants ruck department of Rory Lobb, Andrew Phillips and Tom Downie.

First glimpse of Martin for 2015

Excitement machine Jack Martin missed last week’s pre-season opener in Townsville following his involvement in the AFL Indigenous All Stars camp in Perth. The prodigious talent generated quite a buzz due to his exploits during the camp, and after enduring a tough start to his AFL career, he will be hoping for more luck this season. The 20-year-old ended a frustrating debut season in style last August with a classy 19 possession, four-goal performance against West Coast. Fellow second-year player Josh Kelly has drawn similar lofty expectations at the Giants. Renowned for his polished ball use and poise under pressure, Kelly has been one of the stars on the track this pre-season in western Sydney. Kelly dominated the Giants intra-club game last week and after beginning his career across half-forward, looks destined for more midfield minutes in 2015.

Giants wheel out star recruits

Arguably the biggest shock of the entire 2014 football season was Ryan Griffen’s decision to walk out on the Western Bulldogs. After less than 12 months in his role as club captain, the dual best and fairest winner announced his desire to move to GWS in a move that stunned the football world. On Saturday, Griffen will appear for the first time in Giants colours alongside another post-season recruiting coup in Joel Patfull. The former Brisbane Lions key defender and two-time best and fairest winner brings a wealth of experience to the young Giants group and along with recent recruits, Heath Shaw and Shane Mumford, provides the young Giants list with further guidance.

Leslie’s tasks not getting any easier by the week

After playing two games at the tail end of last season, SUNS key defender Jack Leslie began 2015 with one of the toughest tasks in football: stopping Geelong premiership star Tom Hawkins. In the absence of Steven May and Rory Thompson, Leslie will once again be given the task of quelling the best opposition forward. This week, Jeremy Cameron awaits. Hardly two of the easiest tasks to begin the year, but undoubtedly a great opportunity for the young defender to demonstrate his worth ahead of his second season at Metricon Stadium. With the ink still drying on his new five-year, multi-million dollar contract with the Giants, Cameron will be out to get his season off in the right manner in Blacktown after enduring an injury plagued 2014.

Young midfields set to go head to head

With both the SUNS and Giants boasting two of the games best young midfield groups, all eyes will be on this battle on Saturday. Gold Coast may have sent a slightly undermanned group south, but with Harley Bennell, David Swallow and Jack Martin floating through this area the SUNS will still be well represented despite the absence of Gary Ablett, Jaeger O’Meara, Dion Prestia, Michael Rischitelli and Mitch Hallahan. GWS have named a strong side for their opening pre-season fixture with Griffen, Kelly, Stephen Coniglio, Toby Greene, Dylan Shiel, Lachie Whitfield and Will Hoskin-Elliot all set to play. Although, 2014 Kevin Sheedy medallist Shane Mumford won’t be providing the GWS onball brigade with service on the weekend.