SUMMARY
The two expansion clubs could not have had more contrasting seasons and round 15 summed up their year perfectly. The Suns lost the seemingly unlosable against the Western Bulldogs while the Giants won their first match without hulking ruckman Shane Mumford against St Kilda to keep their tilt at a first finals appearance on course. Despite the heartbreaking loss, Gold Coast has had a vastly improved past six weeks and the return of Gary Ablett, David Swallow and Rory Thompson in recent weeks makes them a far more formidable opponent. Like the Bulldogs, the Giants are full of run and will be favoured to sneak home here, but an upset wouldn't be a total surprise.
 
WHERE AND WHEN: Metricon Stadium, Saturday, July 18, 2.10pm AEST
 
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
 
LAST FIVE TIMES
R4, 2015, Greater Western Sydney 16.23 (119) d Gold Coast 7.11 (53) at StarTrack Oval
R6, 2014, Gold Coast 20.14 (134) d Greater Western Sydney 13.16 (94) at Metricon Stadium
R23, 2013, Gold Coast 22.14 (146) d Greater Western Sydney 9.9 (63) at Metricon Stadium
R5, 2013, Gold Coast 21.22 (148) d Greater Western Sydney 16.8 (104) at StarTrack Oval
R20, 2012, Gold Coast 16.13 (109) d Greater Western Sydney 12.7 (79) at Metricon Stadium
 
THE SIX POINTS
1. The Giants dominated all over the ground in round four, winning the disposals (459-301), marks (98-51), tackles (44-36), scoring shots (39-18) and inside 50s (60-51). Cam McCarthy and Jeremy Cameron booted nine goals between them.
 
2. The Giants have been a strong uncontested possession team in 2015, ranked third with 240.6 a game, while the Suns have struggled, ranked last with 184.6 a game.
 
3. These teams traditionally do not play close games. Two of the past three matches have been decided by more than 60 points, while the average final margin is 48 points.
 
4. Gold Coast averages fewer disposals than any other team in 2015 with only 326 a game. The Giants are sixth with 371.6 a game.
 
5. One area the Giants have really struggled this season is goalkicking. They are ranked last in the competition, kicking 176.181 at an accuracy of just 46.4 per cent.
 
6. After missing three months of action, Gary Ablett has vaulted back into the top 10 of the AFL Official Player Ratings after just two matches. The Suns skipper is seventh overall after his 30 disposals and one goal against the Bulldogs.

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Rory Thompson
The big Suns defender made his comeback from a hip flexor injury against the Dogs last week and was a bit rusty. Inexperienced Jack Redpath kicked a career-high 3.2 on him from limited opportunities as Thompson struggled for timing. This week he'll get either Jeremy Cameron or Cam McCarthy, who both had a hand in ripping apart the Suns in round four. Thompson needs to lift to give his team a chance.

PREDICTION: Giants by 16 points