Return of top end talent strengthen SUNS weaponry

The return of Charlie Dixon and Harley Bennell blatantly strengthens Gold Coast’s attack on paper, with Dixon crucial for the SUNS' structure. Capable of anything, Bennell’s stop-start season has another opportunity to be reignited at Adelaide Oval. With Eade’s side struggling for run for the duration of the season, the return of Bennell and Gary Ablett between the arcs should help alive this area of concern somewhat. Up forward, the pair has the capacity to impact the scoreboard. Having also endured a frustrating season that has teased at times and threatened to dominate, Dixon returns from a one-week absence due to an ankle injury. The spearhead has been substituted out of two of his last three outings with the same issue, but if he can get on top of his body, he and Tom Lynch have the potential to beat any defensive pairing in the game. Against Adelaide in round six, Dixon kicked three goals from five touches to salvage something from a difficult evening on All Australian full back Daniel Talia. Expect Talia to reacquaint himself with Dixon on Adelaide Oval.

Smith set for tough date with in-form Jacobs

With Tom Nicholls failing to overcome a badly corked quad, Zac Smith assumes the ruck responsibility against Adelaide. His assignment, Sam Jacobs, presents an enormous task for Smith, given his form against Port Adelaide in the Showdown was vintage Jacobs. The Crow dominated Matthew Lobbe and Paddy Ryder, collecting 51 hitouts, including 20 to advantage. When Nicholls departed the game early last weekend against the Giants, Smith performed the role with aplomb, collecting 37 hitouts to help give the SUNS first use of the ball around the stoppages. Whilst Jacobs hasn’t quite been at his 2014 best this year, he has closed in on it in recent weeks. Smith has a crucial role in the outcome of Saturday afternoon’s clash at Adelaide Oval, especially given the midfield personnel not perched under his trigger hand.

Schade bolsters tall defence to face potent Adelaide attack

Adelaide’s mix of talls and smalls in attack will have caused Rodney Eade some headaches this week, particularly how to stop Taylor Walker and Eddie Betts. The pair have terrorised the SUNS at times, but they aren’t the Crows only goal sources, with Josh Jenkins, Tom Lynch and Charlie Cameron all combining to make Adelaide a difficult prospect to stop. After 16 rounds, Adelaide is ranked third for average goals per game with 13 to emphasise how damaging their weaponry in attack can be. Betts has 38 for the year (6th in the Coleman medal race) and Walker has 35 (8th). The return of key defender Henry Schade will bolster Gold Coast’s defensive key posts, with Steven May and Rory Thompson set for afternoon’s on the Crows two power forwards – Walker and Jenkins. The last time the two sides met, Betts got the better of Jesse Lonergan, kicking 5.0. After a brilliant start to the year, Betts has slowed in the last six weeks, but he presents a tough task for whomever Eade sends to him in the South Australian capital.

Miller set for more time in the middle

Finally, the Rising Star panel opened their eyes this week and awarded Touk Miller a nomination. The tenacious midfielder was forced to earn one the hard way after several nomination worthy performances, but his effort against Greater Western Sydney was as good as any produced by a first-year player this season. Miller’s finest hour coincided with his first full game in the midfield, a fact not lost on those inside Metricon Stadium. With Mitch Hallahan joining a myriad of onballers on the sidelines this week, expect Miller to be exposed to another game in the guts. The return of Rory Sloane sees the Crows bat even deeper this week in the midfield. He joins Patrick Dangerfield, Scott Thompson, Richard Douglas and Brodie Smith in a dangerous onball division that will severely test the SUNS who are still depleted in this area of the ground despite the recent return of Ablett. Alex Sexton took All Australian Smith out of the game back in round six, holding him to just 13 touches and zero influence on the game. Smith hasn’t recaptured the form of 2014 this year, but given his game-breaking ability and potent right foot, expect similar attention this weekend.

Malceski beginning to find his range

Former Sydney premiership star Nick Malceski produced his best performance on the weekend since last year’s Grand Final - the last time he wore red and white. The All Australian rebounding defender has endured a frustrating maiden season in Carrara, with form and injury concerns lurking for the first half of the year. Since the turn of the bye, Malceski has gradually rediscovered his kicking range. His boldness by foot never left, but it has begun to pay dividends in recent weeks. Malceski collected 25 possessions and eight rebound 50s against Greater Western Sydney to be the architect backwards of centre. The SUNS desperately need more from Malceski, who along with Kade Kolodjashnij, has the potential to become a clinical one-two punch from defensive 50.