Jared Brennan says the Q Clash is his favourite game of the year and counts the Marcus Ashcroft medal he won in the first ever meeting between the Gold Coast SUNS and Brisbane Lions as a career highlight.

The former Lion was a colossus in his first ever meeting against his old team to claim the inaugural Marcus Ashcroft Medal named after the triple Premiership Lion and current SUNS Football Manager.

“It was great to win it, I played a few games with Choppers in Brisbane and he is just a stalwart of the game here in Queensland, so to win that award was a great honour,'' he said.

And even though SUNS coach Guy McKenna has identified him as a contender to take-on his former captain and one of the game’s most intimidating players, Jonathan Brown in Q Clash 3 on Saturday, Brennan’s enthusiasm cannot be curbed.

Beneath his laid back exterior lies a fierce competitor and Brennan admits he loves nothing more than testing himself out against his former side.

"When the draw comes out this is the game I look for straight away,'' he said.

"Obviously being a former Lion adds a personal element to what is an intense rivalry.

"I've got a lot of mates up there, but even though they are mates I don't want them to win and they probably feel the same.

''I think Brownie will be playing his first Q Clash and Campbell Brown as well, so it is our hard man versus their hard man, it should be a good contest’’

Brennan was an established star of a Lions side on the rise when he departed to join the Gold Coast SUNS.
And even though he left behind some of his closest mates, not to mention the fact he must now endure the totally new experience of being booed at the Gabba where he was once a crowd favourite, he remains convinced he made the right decision.

"It is a tough one, there were a lot of reasons for and a lot of reasons against, but in the end I think I made the right decision to come to the Gold Coast,'' he said.

"I got a lot of boos, and I don't normally cop them at the Gabba so that was a bit strange, but it probably made me lift a little bit more.''

Michael Rischitelli is another former Lion who will be taking on his old club but Brennan reckons it will be just another game for his team mate.

"Risha is pretty intense, the way he plays every game is pretty intense so it wil be the same as always, he is a good team mate to have on your side,'' he said.

The SUNS gave notice of what Brisbane can expect with a spirited performance against top eight fancy Essendon on Saturday but Brennan said it was imperative the young side could back it up.

"In a young team the hardest thing is consistency, but we have put ourselves in good stead with a hard hit out against the Bombers,'' he said.

"That was one of the more physical games I had played in at the SUNS, so that should set us for this weekend.

"Hopefully we can come out and produce another physical performance.''