After going down to Port Adelaide by four points on Friday night, the Gold Coast SUNS must win tonight against Essendon to secure a spot in the top eight.

Last time the two teams met, the Gold Coast SUNS thumped Essendon by 54 points.

On Tuesday, SUNS captain, Noah Anderson spoke openly about the team’s performance and says he is confident that the team will respond.

The Gold Coast SUNS have never played in finals, but a win will lock in an historic first finals appearance in club history.

Anderson says the group is ready to perform, and the team has had conversations about the stakes of tonight’s clash.

“I think by talking about it, and being honest with ourselves and being really connected as teammates and fiends, you know we understand there’s a little more pressure tomorrow night," he said.

Tonight’s match is the third in 11 days. The last time Gold Coast had a condensed schedule was during the COVID-10 pandemic, in Anderson’s debut season in 2020.

Despite beating Essendon the first time the two teams met, Anderson says any team the Gold Coast SUNS play is a dangerous opponent.

Friday night’s clash was an emotionally charged affair, as Port Adelaide veteran Travis Boak, and long-term coach Ken Hinkley bid farewell to the club.

The SUNS skipper says the club will take valuable lessons from the clash into tonight and the clash was a great opportunity to play in a finals-like atmosphere.

The SUNS will get valuable experience when Daniel Rioli and Bailey Humphrey return from injury, after each being sidelined with a knee issue. Jake Rogers is also set to return for his first match since round nine.