Gold Coast co-captain Touk Miller is challenging the Suns to use Sunday's Queensland derby against high-flying Brisbane to send a message to the AFL.
The Lions have dominated recent clashes between the two clubs, with Gold Coast last tasting victory over their neighbours in 2018.
In the six matches since, Brisbane have enjoyed an average winning margin of eight goals.
That edge was perfectly highlighted when the teams met at the Gabba in round 19 last year, Brisbane overcoming a 27-point deficit at halftime to kick 13 second-half goals to one on their way to a 49-point win.
The Lions head to Metricon Stadium in third on the ladder with a 4-1 record while Gold Coast are 2-3 after last week's loss to St Kilda in Melbourne.
Miller though is bullish about his team's chances and wants them to use the occasion to show the league that 2022 is going to be a different season for the Suns.
"I'm really excited. I just think that there's a massive opportunity this week for ourselves to put a bit of a stamp on the competition," Miller told AAP.
"Brisbane might not be in the form they want to be in but they're also a top-four side, if not top two, so to take a scalp like that this week would be really big for our team.
"We know that if we get 22 blokes that come to play, we're going to be pretty hard to beat."
More than any other Sun, Miller has come to relish a match-up against the Lions.
The All-Australian has had multiple run-ins with Brisbane captain Dayne Zorko in the past, though they are likely to play differing roles on Sunday given the Lions veteran's switch to the half-back line so far in 2022.
Miller was eagerly anticipating leading the Suns' midfield including Matt Rowell, Noah Anderson and ruckman Jarrod Witts against the Lions' group featuring Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale, ball magnet Hugh McCluggage and ex-Sun Jarryd Lyons.
"There's a lot of exciting players that are going to be out on the field and showcasing their best," Miller said.
"That's what the QClash is going to be about for the next 10 years, which is really exciting.
"Some of those match-ups are going to be a lot of fun and the rivalry is really going to be there."
The Suns have named forward Mabior Chol after he overcame groin soreness suffered in last week's loss to the Saints but Jack Lukosius (knee) misses for a second week.
Brisbane have named Keidean Coleman in an extended squad after six weeks out with a hamstring injury in what will be small forward Lincoln McCarthy's 100th AFL appearance.
