Defending AFLW Club Champion Lauren Ahrens says SUNS fans can expect improvement in the club’s third AFLW campaign.

The SUNS will soon ramp up preparations with the club’s AFLW Winter Program getting underway this week ahead of a scheduled start to the new season in December 2021.

With the expectations that the SUNS will field one of the younger lists in the competition, Ahrens says there’s plenty of room for growth an improvement.

“A lot of our talent is quite raw so there’s plenty of space for growth,” Ahrens said.

“(In response to what needs to be improved) Our individual performances, but then collectively as well. Coming together as a group and working on our performance as a whole.”

The sixth AFLW season is pencilled in to commence before New Year with pre-season only a matter of weeks away.

Ahrens, who has been plying her trade during the off-season with Essendon in the VFLW, is one of many SUNS players who have spent the winter period playing in state leagues around the country.

For many, the start of pre-season can’t come quick enough.

“It’s definitely come around pretty quickly. September is just around the corner and a lot of us have been playing in the state leagues, but we all play because we love it,” Ahrens added.

“Everyone is pretty happy just to get going. Once we get the opportunity, we’re just happy to take it.”

With games set to be played in December for the first time ever, the prospect of more matches in the height of Queensland summer doesn’t worry the 29-year-old.

“It’s hot anyway (during previous AFLW seasons) so we’re used to it. It’ll just be more games in the high end of summer.”