ARRIVALS: Jared Ellis, Louis Herbert, Kade Kolodjashnij, Sean Lemmens, Jack Leslie
DEPARTURES: Jared Brennan, Campbell Brown, Jacob Gillbee, Kyal Horsley, Liam Patrick, Maverick Weller, Joel Wilkinson
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BEST 22
B: Seb Tape, Rory Thompson, Trent McKenzie
HB: Matt Shaw, Nathan Bock, Sean Lemmens
C: Jarrod Harbrow, Dion Prestia, Michael Rischitelli
HF: Harley Bennell, Tom Lynch, Jack Martin
F: Brandon Matera, Sam Day, Charlie Dixon
R: Zac Smith, Gary Ablett, Jaeger O'Meara
INT: Danny Stanley, David Swallow, Jesse Lonergan
SUB: Timmy Sumner
MEDICAL ROOM
Nathan Bock, leg - TBC
Jack Hutchins, back – TBC
Leigh Osborne, ankle – TBC
Zac Smith, knee – indefinite
Seb Tape, hamstring – test
Check out the AFL's injury list
PASS MARK FOR 2014: The Suns are looking for 10-12 wins this season and if that gets them into the finals, then great. They need to start running out four quarters and beat a number of top-eight teams to show the improvement they expect. Level or fewer wins than last year's eight would be a big disappointment.
NEEDS A BIG YEAR: After injury dogged his 2013, Karmichael Hunt has slipped significantly down the midfield pecking order. He is out of contract and with the rugby league vultures circling, will want to re-establish himself in Guy McKenna's top 22 to consider staying in the sport.
FIRST FIVE GAMES: Richmond (MS), Fremantle (PS), Brisbane Lions (MS), Hawthorn (MS), Melbourne (MCG)
Click here to see Gold Coast's entire 2014 fixture
PLAY TWICE: Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs, Brisbane Lions, St Kilda, West Coast
TOUGHEST RUN: The Suns confront a brutal five-game stretch to start the second half of their season. From round 12-16 they face the Sydney Swans, West Coast (away), Geelong, Hawthorn (away) and Collingwood, and will likely need to snare a couple of victories to have any hope of playing finals.
DREAM SCENARIO: Gold Coast continues its improvement and marches to its first finals appearance. The Suns showed growth last year to notch eight wins, and with a favourable draw in 2014 have a chance to build on that. They can fly past the Brisbane Lions as Queensland's number one team and make the first of what is expected to be many trips to play in September.
WORST NIGHTMARE: They get off to a slow start and plateau with another eight-win season. Opponents will be increasingly aware of the threat Gold Coast poses, but with so much elite talent, it would be a travesty to not climb the ladder and start mixing with the big boys.
PRESSURE RATING ON THE COACH: 5/10. Guy McKenna is out of contract but a lock to keep his job. For the first time in their brief history, there's some genuine expectation on the Suns to perform. This rating could escalate quickly if the losses mount early and undo the good work of 2013.
