For most of us a gruelling 2km time trial in driving rain may not be the ideal way to return to work, but that's exactly what awaited the Gold Coast SUNS squad at Griffith University today as they tackled their first training session for 2011.

Thankfully, the players exhibited no signs of festive over indulgence. All looked sharp and fit, and despite the testing weather, several individuals impressed.

In the first group to run, last years Queensland Under 18 skipper Joel Wilkinson was - as always - an awesome sight, but today his effort was usurped by last years' number 49 National Draft pick Jeremy Taylor. Karmichael Hunt and Dion Prestia also ran powerfully, as did big Rory Thompson in a lion-hearted effort. In the second group number two 2010 National Draft pick Harley Bennell was an early pace-setter before being pipped on the line by a fast finishing fellow draftee in Daniel Gorringe. Jared Brennan, looking fitter than ever, was a standout. Maverick Weller also looked extremely strong.

With only a few weeks remaining before the pre-season competition, Senior Coach Guy McKenna said the countdown to football was well and truly on.

"Five weeks before we roll out against the boys in Sydney in the NAB Cup and then only a couple of weeks until our Round 2 clash against Carlton. So it's under a hundred days now. We've got over 10,000 members on board. There's plenty to be excited about."

In a nod to the playing groups' developing maturity he said the first training session in the year of the club's first AFL season was no more important than any other.

"The boys understand they have a job to do. Most of them started as far back as October, a few a bit later. But for them and us it's very much business as usual. It's all about improving athletically and empowering the players as individuals. As Michael Rischitelli said at a training session a while back, he wants the blokes around him mean and hungry and ready for Round 2 and he's not going to stop until the players are there with him. And there's been a feeling since he said that within the playing group that they're genuinely ready."

Cairns-raised key forward Charlie Dixon, one of the first players to sign on with the GC SUNS back in 2009, said 2011's first session was tough but enjoyable.

"With all the water around it felt like we were running with bricks tied to our feet, but all in all it was good to get training underway."

He said for him the proximity of the club's debut game was only now starting to make the game's biggest stage a reality.

"I was was chatting to Choppers (Marcus Ashcroft - Gold Coast SUNS GM Football Operations) earlier on and he said we've only got five or so weeks to go and I suppose it really dawned on me just how close it is now. I just want to get into it, and work towards that first game, and doing everything I can to get a start and hopefully be there with the boys."

The Gold Coast SUNS will undertake an open rehabilitation session from 9.30am on Saturday at Surfers' Paradise Surf Club. Post session, players will sign autographs before helping out Surfers' Paradise SLSC members at a fund-raising sausage sizzle.