Former Hawk Hallahan to face old mob for the first time

Saturday’s trip to Tasmania will be the first time Mitch Hallahan faces his old teammates since moving to the Gold Coast during last October’s trade period. It hasn’t quite been a great start for the midfielder, but in the last fortnight Hallahan appears to have put niggling injuries firmly in the rear vision mirror. With Gary Ablett, Jaeger O’Meara, David Swallow and now Dion Prestia all absent from the midfield, the engine room he thought he was joining now looks completely foreign. In the last two weeks, Hallahan has averaged 24 possessions, eight tackles and 10.5 clearances to be one of the SUNS’ best contributors around the stoppages. If someone is going to stand up in the absence of the first-choice midfield, Hallahan might well be that man.

Eade starting to get soldiers back, with more returns on the horizon

Dion Prestia may have joined the merciless injury toll at Metricon Stadium, but with Jack Martin returning from an ankle injury and Steven May returning from a three-game suspension, Rodney Eade’s soldiers are beginning to return for service. The worst of the injury plague appears to be behind them. Touch wood. With the bye on the radar set to provide some solace, and Gary Ablett, David Swallow and Nick Malceski on the cusp of returning, the tide is finally turning in Gold Coast's favour.

Dixon, Lynch face tough task in Hawthorn back six

Hawthorn’s defence is arguably the best in the competition, both in the key posts and on the ground. The inclusion of James Frawley is starting to come to fruition on the back of his performance on Sydney superstar Lance Franklin. With Frawley in form and Brian Lake back from injury, the task for Charlie Dixon and Tom Lynch is difficult. And then when you factor in Josh Gibson and Ben Stratton turning one-on-one’s into outnumbered contests and the task becomes even more difficult. Since returning against Greater Western Sydney in round four, Dixon has produced three first-class performances. He kicked 6.2 against Brisbane, 3.1 from minimal opportunities against Adelaide and 4.2 last weekend against Collingwood. With Tom Lynch commanding centre half forward, Dixon is allowed to play closer to home. If the SUNS are any chance of leaving Launceston with four premiership points, Dixon and Lynch will need to have a large say in the game.

Sexton set for another tough assignment

One player that has gone unnoticed outside the four walls of Metricon Stadium this season is Alex Sexton. Internally, his team orientated efforts would see him sitting right up the pointy end of the club champion voting after eight rounds. Eade has sent him to the best opposition ball carriers at times throughout the opening two months of the season and his performances on Adelaide’s Brodie Smith and Collingwood’s Paul Seedsman were telling. Last weekend against Seedsman, Sexton produced another no-fuss performance, reducing his impact on the game. On the surface, Seedsman’s 22 disposals was above his average, but it was Sexton’s ability to stop his run and carry which was the difference. The Magpie recorded 361m – down from his 505.8m average which is ranked 5th in the competition. Expect Eade to hand Sexton another assignment in Tasmania, in the name of Isaac Smith. The dual premiership wingman has taken his game to another level in 2015, averaging 27.1 possessions and ranked third in the game for metres gained (526.1m). Another difficult quest for Sexton, but an area that he has applied himself well in during 2015.

May return provides inexperienced Schade with some support

The return of Steven May this week can’t be underestimated. The SUNS premier key defender has missed the last three weeks due to suspension and his absence – along with the injured Rory Thompson – has forced the inexperienced Henry Schade to tackle some of the more difficult tasks in the game. Josh Kennedy at Subiaco for one. His return is the first pillar to return to a depleted Gold Coast back six that is still missing Thompson and Nick Malceski. With Jarryd Roughead and Jack Gunston awaiting, his timely return will definitely bolster the SUNS' defensive stocks. And his guidance and experience will be pivotal in leading an inexperienced back six that has at times during the last three weeks had Kade Kolodjashnij as the most experienced player.

Hodge is back... look out

Another player returning from a three-game suspension is Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge. Whilst watching on from the stands in recent weeks, he has had to sit through two tight losses to Greater Western Sydney and Sydney last weekend. Expect the triple-premiership star to come back with a vengeance on Saturday at Aurora Stadium. The last time he played at this venue, he produced a dominant performance, accumulating a career-high 44 possessions, nine clearances and two goals against the Western Bulldogs back in round three. With Jordan Lewis and Sam Mitchell in-form and at the their leather accumulating best (Mitchell is averaging 32.3 disposals in the last month), Hodge slots into an all-star midfield which will come up against a SUNS onball brigade missing its four best midfielders. Michael Rischitelli has fought gallantly without much support in 2015, and Touk Miller has exceeded all expectations – particularly in the midfield – but against three-time premiership stars, this will be their toughest task yet.