The Gold Coast SUNS today commenced preparations for their final practice match of the pre-season against Melbourne, hitting the training track for a light skills session at Metricon Stadium this morning.

The players took to the field for a series of light running drills before splitting into three groups for different training activities that included a highly-competitive modified game of soccer.

Dividing into “red” and “gold”, the six-on-six soccer match produced a number of highlights which included strongmen Karmichael Hunt and Joel Wilkinson going head-to-head in the middle of the ground, while experienced backman Matthew Warnock showed team mates why his main attributes are better used in defence after failing to convert a wide open shot at goal.

Speaking after the Aerobic Flush session, Haines told goldcoastfc.com.au that modified soccer game was designed to physically test the players in a different training environment after a solid hit-out against the Sydney Swans in Blacktown last weekend.

“The boys got a pretty solid work-out against the reigning AFL premiers, so we thought it’d be a good idea to get them having a kick of the round ball this morning,” said Haines.

“More importantly though, it helps with their recovery and gets their bodies moving... the players also seem to really enjoy it so it’s definitely something we’ll look at doing again.”

With the GC SUNS set to tackle Melbourne at Southport Sharks this Saturday, SUNS forward Steven May believes the squad will use the NAB Cup challenge as the final opportunity to implement everything the team learnt over the pre-season before the season opener against St. Kilda on Saturday 30 March at Metricon Stadium.

“It’s going to be a very important week for us being our last hit-out before we get into it against St. Kilda in Round 1… it definitely won’t be played in the context of a ‘practice’ match as its labelled,” said May.             

“We’re planning to go out there and finish the pre-season on a good note. We really tested ourselves against he reigning premiers on the weekend and to be back home playing on the coast will be a bonus this week.