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AAP
AAP
Joanna Guelas

Suns plot Lions upset as race for AFLW finals heats up

Gold Coast captain Tara Bohanna says the Suns are determined to play finals this season. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)

Gold Coast face a make-or-break clash against Queensland rivals Brisbane as they strive for their first AFLW finals appearance since 2020.

With four rounds left for the home-and-away season, the Suns are looking to continue their charge towards the top four with a win over their arch-rival on Saturday at home.

The Suns are fifth on percentage and have the chance to leapfrog fourth-placed Brisbane but know they face a team that has had their measure in recent years.

Their maiden clash ended in a draw and Brisbane has won three of the past four meetings, the most recent Q-Clash last season ending in a 73-point demolition in the Lions' favour.

Suns skipper Tara Bohanna is well aware there's more on the line than just bragging rights.

"With two teams in the one state, it's always been nice to get the one up. There's always going to be a rivalry there because you see each other more than any other team," Bohanna told AAP.

"In the past, there's been some bigger margins but this year, it's going to be a tough contest.

Courtney Hodder
Courtney Hodder says the team is stronger than ever after some off-field indiscretions.

"Finals is a goal for us. We don't shy away from the fact that we want to make finals.

"We're looking into the next few weeks, if we get the majority of these games on our terms then we're absolutely looking at a prospect that is really exciting for the club."

The Lions will be smarting after coming off an upset 5-point loss to Collingwood.

The Brisbane juggernauts will also be looking to recover from last round's shock omission of stars Jade Ellenger and Poppy Bolt for failing to meet club standards.

But Courtney Hodder says the team is stronger than ever after coach Craig Starcevich laid down the law.

"Those girls know they made a mistake, but we're all with them and behind them," she told AAP.

"We live and we learn from that and I think it's definitely brought the team closer from that mistake.

"We're gonna stick together and we're gonna keep pushing and show everyone what we're really made of."

As the race for finals tightens, just four points and percentage separate the fourth-placed Brisbane Lions from 13th-placed Fremantle.

Fresh off their first win of the season, GWS kick off Saturday's Indigenous Round with an interstate trip to take on St Kilda.

Elsewhere on Saturday, eight-placed Geelong take on Fremantle, Sydney play Hawthorn and Richmond tackles Essendon.

North Melbourne are set to continue their rampage to finals on Sunday against Port Adelaide, while Carlton take on historical rivals Collingwood.

The 17th-placed West Coast host Melbourne on Sunday night, with the defending premiers wounded after losing to Adelaide.

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