GC SUNS captain Gary Ablett has signalled his September ambitions for 2015, revealing he misses playing during the pointy end of the season but aims to break that drought this campaign.

The 30-year-old last tasted finals football while at Geelong in 2010, but hopes to lead his young side into a maiden finals campaign in just over seven months' time.

“I know personally ... I (miss) finals footy. I miss being there in September,” Ablett told The Geelong Advertiser.

“We want to play finals footy, there is no doubt about that. Hopefully we can do it this year.

“We think we have got a good enough side to play finals football. Injuries is one thing you can’t control. Five or six players go down in any side it’s always going to make things tough.”

2014 marked the closest the SUNS have come to playing in September, with Gold Coast sitting in the top eight for the majority of the season.

However, injuries late in the season (including season-ending shoulder surgery for Ablett following round 16) are widely regarded as contributing factors behind a slump that saw the team win just one of its last seven games to slide to a disappointing 12th on the ladder.

While September is his ultimate goal, ‘Gaz’ knows the season opener against Melbourne at the MCG is the team’s primary focus and declared the pre-season was progressing well under new coach Rodney Eade.

“We are just focused on round one and we want to get out there and start the season off well,” he said.

“We have got the core of our group coming into their fourth/fifth season now and you know, they are starting to understand what it’s about.

“We are starting to understand what its about as a group — how professional you need to be and what it takes to be a good side at AFL level.”

Prior to the season proper kicking off in April, the SUNS return to the football field in the NAB Challenge against Geelong in Townsville on March 1.

“The (pre-season) is more just to get the boys used to the footy side of things again,” Ablett said.

“We will use that time to hopefully give some of the younger guys a go. I am sure one of those games we will put our best 22 out there to get ready for the season.

“Which game that’ll be I’m not too sure, that’s up to Rocket.”