Dion Prestia and a host of teammates are aiming for Round 1. Picture: David Clark Source: News Corp Australia
GOLD Coast are set to pick their strongest NEAFL side ever this week in a bid to get a host of senior stars ready for the start of the AFL premiership.
The Suns' NEAFL side plays a scratch match against Southport at Metricon Stadium on Saturday and as many as 10 players from the likely Round 1 side will take part.
Of the players yet to make a NAB Challenge appearance, Stephen May (knee), Rory Thompson (foot), Dion Prestia (hamstring) and Sam Day (knee) will all play.
Steven May is set to play in the NEAFL. Picture: Glenn Hampson Source: News Corp Australia
Michael Rischitelli, Jarrod Harbrow, Luke Russell and Alex Sexton who played in the opening week win against Geelong before being rested for the loss to GWS in Sydney on Saturday are also likely to play against the Sharks.
Ruckman Tom Nicholls, who made his first appearance in nine months in Sydney will back-up again.
Jaeger O'Meara (both knees) and Aaron Hall (groin) will also come under consideration.
If O'Meara does not quite convince the conditioning staff he is ready to play in the NEAFL this week, he is considered a certain starter for the match against the Lions.
That decision will be made after the main training session of the week on Thursday.
The Suns had a wretched run with injuries over the pre-season and have struggled to pick sides in the first two weeks of the NAB Challenge but are suddenly a realistic chance of being close to full strength for the start of the season.
Only ruck forward Charlie Dixon (foot) has been definitively ruled out for the premiership opener against Melbourne at the MCG on April 4. The Suns final Nab Challenge game is against Brisbane at Metricon Stadium on Friday March 20.
Suns football manager Marcus Ashcroft said the side that runs out against the Lions is likely to be the same to kick off the season.
Skipper Gary Ablett will make his first appearance of the year that day.
"It is all timing, we had too many in the rehab group pre and post Christmas but the medical and conditioning staff have managed to get most of the boys ready to go in time,'' he said.
"There are obviously guys who haven't played any footy at all and then there are also guys who haven't played a lot of game time so the next two weeks is really important for us.
"We need to get our preparation right for round one."
The Suns have a few minor injury concerns from the match against GWS.
Josh Hall has a strained neck and Andrew Boston suffered a slight concussion.
While Hall has played twice and is likely to sit-out this weekend, there is a desire to get Boston out there against Southport.
"Boston is one who needs some footy, he has got to go through the concussion testing so we will see how he goes during the week,'' Ashcroft said.
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