Two of the Gold Coast SUNS’ most experienced players, Michael Rischitelli and Trent McKenzie, will return this weekend to face Brisbane in Saturday’s QClash10 at the Gabba, bolstering an inexperienced line-up.
 
For the first time in a long time, Rodney Eade and the match committee have not made wholesale changes to the line-up with the club’s injury curse showing minor signs of recession.
 
After being substituted out of last weekend’s draw with West Coast due to an ankle injury, key defender Rory Thompson is the only forced change this week, with mature-aged rookie Josh Glenn omitted for the trip up the highway.
 
“It’s pleasing, only one was forced – Rory Thompson with his ankle. Getting quality players like Michael Rischitelli and Trent McKenzie back obviously improves us a bit. Hopefully on the back of last week we can add to that as well,” Eade told SUNS TV on Thursday afternoon.
 
Rischitelli missed last Saturday night’s encounter with the Eagles due to a personal issue. His return will assist a new-look midfield comprising of rising star contender Touk Miller, Harley Bennell, Jesse Lonergan and Aaron Hall.
 
The SUNS engine room fought gallantly against a star-studded Eagles midfield last weekend to help Gold Coast earn two precious premiership points.
 
McKenzie missed just the one-week after pulling up with some hamstring awareness late in the SUNS final training session last Thursday night. The medical staff elected to take a cautious approach with the rebounding defender, excluding him from last weekend despite the issue only being minor.
 
A week after facing dangerous West Coast star Nic Naitanui and nullifying his influence, Tom Nicholls’ task won’t get any easier this weekend with Stefan Martin awaiting him on Saturday at the Gabba.
 
Round 19 AFL Premiership Team
 
B: A. Saad, H. Schade, K. Kolodjahsnij
HB: N. Malceski, S. May, T. McKenzie
C: J. Harbrow, M. Rischitelli, M. Shaw
HF: H. Bennell, T. Lynch, B. Matera
F: J. Martin, S. Day, C. Dixon
R: T. Nicholls, J. Lonergan, T. Miller
Interchange: L. Russell, A. Boston, A. Hall, S. Lemmens
Emergencies: Z. Smith, A. Raines, J. Glenn

IN: McKenzie, Rischitelli
OUT: Thompson (ankle), Glenn (omitted)