Gold Coast forward Ben Ainsworth knows all too well about the Suns' bright starts to the AFL season only to fade into obscurity well before the campaign is done.
Last weekend's impressive win over West Coast at Optus Stadium is far from the first time the Suns have hit the ground running, with the club now winning 11 of 18 matches under Stuart Dew in the first four rounds of a season.
By contrast, after round four in Dew's four seasons at the helm, the Suns have won just 10 of 67 matches.
Ainsworth says that record is nothing the Suns aren't aware of.
"It's been a clear focus for us, even in the off-season, just with the way our program was written up and our off-season training," he told AAP.
"We obviously want to start the season well, keep it consistent throughout the whole year and hopefully play finals football.
"That's the ultimate goal but we're just chasing success in the coming weeks and focus on what's at hand at the moment."
Having knocked off the Eagles for the first time in Perth, the challenge continues in round two with premiers Melbourne visiting Metricon Stadium on Saturday.
The Demons haven't lost to the Suns since 2014 and head to Queensland on the back of a 26-point win over the Western Bulldogs in a grand-final rematch last week.
Gold Coast welcomed back co-captain Jarrod Witts against the Eagles from last season's ACL injury and the ruckman was key for the Suns as they surged to a 27-point win along with midfielders Touk Miller and Matt Rowell.
With Max Gawn, Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver on the opposing side this time around, Ainsworth knows it will be crucial for the Suns' midfield to deliver once again.
"It does start with Witter and Toukie as well," Ainsworth said.
"Obviously, stoked for him to be captain of the football club.
"He's a born leader and the way that those boys played on the weekend that got us back in the game and helped us win a game of football.
"So if they can keep spurring us on throughout the year and getting into the forward line it'd be nice."
Gold Coast have made one change from the team that beat the Eagles with forward Alex Sexton replacing Darcy Macpherson.
Saturday's game will also double as a fundraiser for victims of Queensland and northern NSW's recent floods, with the club donating $20,000 to kick things off.
