GOLD Coast is set to unleash Callum Ah Chee in round one against Essendon after an impressive NAB Challenge from the 2015 first round pick.
Ah Chee kicked a goal and had nine disposals against Adelaide on Friday night in his first game at Metricon Stadium.
Crows prove too strong for Suns
He seemed to handle the slippery conditions as well as anyone with his clean ball-handling a feature.
The 18-year-old told AFL.com.au he was not yet projecting to round one, preferring to take each day as it comes.
"[I'll] focus on playing good football and getting to know the structures and the gameplan and all that stuff," Ah Chee said.
"It would obviously be good to play some games but it will come, so I am taking it step by step."
Ah Chee has a good lateral step, is balanced and clean. He also showed last season he leaps like a rocket taking off.
Defenders only have to sneeze to lose the youngster whose surname raises endless possibilities for a nickname.
But he also understands playing the small forward role requires more than being elusive. He knows he needs to put defensive pressure on to ensure he is always contributing.
"'Rocket' [coach Rodney Eade] has me playing up forward. I am enjoying it and learning every day. It's a hard position to play but everyone is getting around me to help me out," Ah Chee said.
The Suns used selection No.8 to pick up Ah Chee at the draft, who played football with South Fremantle in 2015, the same club as new teammates Jarrod Garlett and Brandon Matera.
As one of eight Western Australians on the Suns' list, he has plenty of players who understand what it takes to settle in if he needs a hand.
"They have come a long way as well and they are still on the list. They have pretty much said 'take it as it comes and you will be right'," Ah Chee said.
He is also the younger brother of Port Adelaide's Brendon Ah Chee so he has seen what it takes to play AFL.
He said he "couldn't be at a better club", describing his first few months at the club as "awesome" with everyone playing a role ensuring the arrivals settle in.
"The thing about the Suns is that all the boys are really young and it is a really tight-knit group so I haven't really stuck to a mentor specifically. Everyone has got around me," Ah Chee said.
Eade said after the clash with the Crows that the 18-year-old was in contention, along with West Australian mature-aged rookie Ryan Davis, who has played with Swan Districts for six years after playing the last of his 14 games with West Coast in round 21, 2009.
"I think those two are putting themselves into a real good situation to be picked," Eade said on Friday night.
It could see the Suns with an exciting WA-flavoured forward line against Essendon.
Garlett is a chance after kicking two goals for the Suns' reserves in a practice match on Saturday, and both Jack Martin and Matera enter the season with a few games under the belt.
The Suns will also welcome back Gary Ablett, Jesse Lonergan and Kade Kolodjashnij in round one, with Dion Prestia touch and go for the clash against Essendon.
Ah Chee is still pinching himself that he is in contention to play senior football this early in his first season at the Suns.
"It's pretty crazy. I never thought I would play three NAB Challenge games so I am very grateful for the opportunity. Everyone is pushing for a spot so you know if you're not performing, someone else will take your spot," Ah Chee said.
And he carries the optimism of youth when describing the Suns' prospects.
"We're on the rise," says Ah Chee.
