One of the more mouth watering contests all year…

It looms as one of the more intriguing match ups all season. Alex Rance is destined for another All Australian guernsey - his second in succession - and Tom Lynch has been the best forward in the game over the last three weeks. The SUNS spearhead hasn’t just let his football do the talking through big marks, clutch goals and an ability to cover all patches of grass on the ground, he has stamped himself as bona fide captaincy material. Rance is not only one of the best contested defenders in the competition, but his ability to cover the ground is as good as any key position player in the game. Last Friday night, Taylor Walker got the better of Rance but only marginally, proving his class with phenomenal skill that simply didn’t allow Rance to intervene at times. Coming off a Marcus Ashcroft medal winning performance, Lynch must continue his rich vein of form to have a sizeable say in the outcome of Sunday’s game.

A winning record is a no mean feat

In their short history, Gold Coast has only two winning records against opposition sides. One is Greater Western Sydney, the other is Richmond. Rodney Eade’s side has won three of four meetings against the Tigers to boast an impressive 75 per cent winning record. Admittedly, all four encounters have been in Queensland, with three games being held at Cazaly’s Stadium in Cairns and one at Metricon Stadium. But for an expansion club, a winning record is a massive achievement at this point in time. Amid the focus on Trent Cotchin’s milestone game and the Tigers poor effort last weekend, Richmond haven’t forgotten this fact this week, with a consistent theme protruding out of Punt Road that the Tigers are due for a win over the SUNS. Ladder positions would suggest Richmond have Gold Coast’s measure as they head towards a third straight finals series. But, as the SUNS have shown in recent times, they are capable of matching the likes of Fremantle and West Coast, and Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs for three quarters.

Tigers struggle to impact the scoreboard

Richmond may have one of the premier defensive combinations in the game, but they have struggled to impact the scoreboard this season. After 19 rounds the Tigers are ranked 12^th for points for at an average of 81.3 points per game and in the last six weeks, Damien Hardwick’s side has kicked ten goals or less on six occasions to emphasise their inability to kick big scores. Jack Riewoldt has lacked support in the key posts all season with neither Tyrone Vickery nor Ben Griffiths grasping the second tall position. Riewoldt has kicked 44 goals for the season (ranked equal 4^th in the competition) but there is daylight to the next best at Punt Road – emphasising the Tigers area of concern. And the next best is Brett Deledio on 17 and then Dustin Martin on 16 – Vickery only has 14 for the year and Griffiths just 12. In comparison, Gold Coast pair Charlie Dixon (35 goals) and Tom Lynch (34 goals) has combined to be one of the more lethal forward pairings in the game this year. Although, Gold Coast is ranked 14^th for points for at an average of 75.9 points which attributes somewhat to their lowly ladder position.

Red-hot May set for another tough assignment in Riewoldt

The resurgence of Steven May in the second half of the season has prompted some journalists in Queensland to suggest he is on track for a maiden All Australian berth, but given the fact he has missed five games through injury and suspension this bid is quite unrealistic. Nevertheless, his form since the bye has been as good as any key defender in the game with May producing stellar performances on Jeremy Cameron, Drew Petrie and Taylor Walker. He was one of the SUNS' best against the Lions last weekend and will be handed another difficult assignment this Sunday in the form of Jack Riewoldt. As mentioned above, Riewoldt has been the Tigers attacking weapon all season long and his deep bag of tricks presents an imposing task. But given May’s form, and his list of 2015 scalps which includes Jarryd Roughead, the key defender is more than capable of quelling the dual Coleman medallist. Although where Riewoldt starts and spends most of his afternoon is another question after he started on the back of the square against Adelaide and spent some of the night between the arcs and on the back side of stoppages. The move had little effect and might not be repeated, but regardless it will be another intriguing match up, along with Rance and Lynch.

Deep yellow and black engine room, just another test for SUNS

Richmond’s onball division presents another test for Gold Coast. Three weeks ago, the football department would have endured sleepless nights about an assignment like this. But the drastic improvement of Aaron Hall and reliable efforts from Jesse Lonergan and Touk Miller, plus Michael Rischitelli, Harley Bennell and Brandon Matera has ensured the SUNS have competed strongly despite the absence of key personnel. Richmond captain Trent Cotchin, in game 150, leads a potent yellow and black midfield that also boasts two of the best game breakers in the land in Dustin Martin and Brett Deledio. Then below the pure class lies stoppages specialist Anthony Miles who has continued to stun the football world this year, outside weapons Shaun Grigg and Brandon Ellis and then the added depth provided by Taylor Hunt, Kamdyn McIntosh and Kane Lambert. The Tigers bat far deeper than they have in the past, but Gold Coast won’t be scared. The same engine room fought out a nil-all draw against the star-studded Eagles a fortnight ago. Sunday is just another opportunity for inexperience to show what they have to offer.