SIR DOUG Nicholls Round blasts off tonight in Darwin when Gold Coast takes on Carlton from 7.20pm ACST (7.50pm AEST).

MATCH CENTRE Follow it LIVE when the game begins

With finals hopes hanging by a thread, a win is a must for both teams.

Carlton has five wins for the season and sits a game outside the eight, whereas Gold Coast has four wins and a draw.

The Suns last tasted victory back in round seven and they have been unable to get over the line since, despite a series of very close calls. 

THE LADDER Where is your team sitting?

Not only is the game in primetime, Gold Coast has some extra incentive with the match being co-captain David Swallow's 150th.

Carlton has also been involved in a stack of thrilling results, including last round's miracle win over Fremantle thanks to an amazing after-the-siren kick from former Saint Jack Newnes.

THE SIMPSON DROUGHT SET TO END

This game will end the longest break (in games) an AFL player has had between venues, historian Stephen Rodgers informs us.

When Kade Simpson, 36, last played at TIO Stadium (324 games ago), his potential Gold Coast opponents Izak Rankine and Wil Powell were just 5 years old, while Jack Lukosius, Noah Anderson, Ben King, Connor Budarick and Caleb Graham were 4yo, and Sam Flanders was three.

Simpson's most recent game there was in round 13, 2005, against the Bulldogs. In that match, Simpson played his 13th game, and Eddie Betts played his 12th.