Considering Gold Coast's horror away record as any sort of factor would only serve as a potential banana skin for Greater Western Sydney in the AFL finals contenders' high-stakes clash, Giants defender Harry Himmelberg says.
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The Suns have been the competition's Jekyll-and-Hyde performers throughout their first season under Damien Hardwick: unbeaten at home and winless away.
Their two interstate victories have come in 'home' fixtures played in the familiar surrounds of Darwin.
Hardwick's men will need to win genuine away games in the run home if they are to make a long-awaited maiden finals appearance this year.
But the Giants determined not to be the first side to fall to the Suns on home soil when they meet at Engie Stadium on Saturday.
"I don't think we read into that (record) too much," Himmelberg told AAP.
"The competition's so even and if you read into something like that, then that's when you're probably going to lose.
"We'll prepare for Gold Coast at their best, which is what we'll expect."
The Suns (9-8) sit 11th on the ladder after last week's win over Port Adelaide, just one win behind the seventh-placed Giants (10-7) in a hot battle for top-eight spots.
"They're a bloody good team and they're on a similar trajectory to us," Himmelberg said.
"They're playing really exciting footy and it will be a good battle.
"Last time we played them it was a tough game, so I'm sure we can expect that again."
GWS have won 12 of the past 13 encounters in the so-called 'Expansion Cup' between the competition's two newest additions.
Their sole defeat during that time was a one-point loss in Ballarat in 2021.
The latest instalment of the rivalry will feature Coleman Medal contenders at opposite ends, with Suns forward Ben King and Giants counterpart Jesse Hogan spearheading their respective sides.
The pair have 45 goals each and are just four behind the leader - Carlton's Charlie Curnow - both within sight of career-best season returns.
Neither have managed 50 in a single campaign to date, but are on track to surge well past the half-century this year.
Himmelberg nominated teammate Jack Buckley as the man to stop King, in the absence of injured star defender Sam Taylor.
"He's a really good player so we'll put plenty of attention into him," Himmelberg said.
"Our defence is getting there.
"We held (Richmond) pretty well for most of the day (last week) but we've obviously still got some room for improvement.
"The positive is Sam's back in a couple of weeks, hopefully, and we get guys like Joe Fonti and Leek Aleer that get to play games as well.
"So we get some experience and depth through the squad."
GWS are coming off consecutive wins for the first time since a club-record 5-0 start to the season, having beaten Richmond and high-flying Carlton.
But they have lost experienced midfielder Stephen Coniglio to a shoulder injury, replaced by Xavier O'Halloran.
David Swallow, Lachie Weller and Alex Sexton replace Ben Ainsworth, Alex Davies and Malcolm Rosas Jnr.
Australian Associated Press
