WHERE & WHEN: Metricon Stadium, Saturday 25 February, 7.10pm (AEDT)

PRE-SEASON/NIGHT PREMIERSHIPS WON: This is only the second time the Suns have been involved in pre-season action, following their stunning debut appearance last season - but we'll get to that. Their local rivals, Brisbane, also haven't won a pre-season flag, but they've made the final on two occasions - the last in 2007. If you count Fitzroy, then they won the night series tournament in 1978 and lost to Hawthorn in the 1992 decider. Melbourne have a combined total of three night/pre-season premierships (1971, 1987, 1989).

LAST YEAR'S NAB CUP: Nobody really expected Sydney to be troubled in their two pool matches against Gold Coast and the Giants. But it was the Suns who stole the show in a memorable night of football at Blacktown, beating the Swans by three points and then little brothers GWS by four goals. That's where their NAB Cup ran ended though, as they were bundled out of the competition by West Coast the following weekend. The Demons won both of their first round matches as well, against the Crows and Port down in South Australia, but fell to Essendon in the quarter-final. Last year's tournament was a forgettable one for Brisbane, though - they were handed a 61-point thumping by the Dons and then a five goal loss to St Kilda in their triangular fixture at Etihad Stadium.

WALKING WOUNDED: Gold Coast quartet Josh Caddy, Sam Day, Trent McKenzie and Josh Toy are all in Arizona at the moment and obviously won't play. Neither will Rory Thompson (groin), Taylor Hine (ankle) or Michael Coad (hamstring). Melbourne will be without Cale Morton (knee), Sam Blease (suspended by club), Max Gawn (knee), Jake Spencer (knee) and Liam Jurrah (wrist). For Brisbane, the absentees are Daniel Rich (foot) and Josh Drummond (hip).

WE THINK: This could be tight. We know that clubs are not always at their best during the pre-season. While Melbourne beat Gold Coast and Brisbane convincingly when they met in their 2011 home and away fixtures, the NAB Cup is always a different story. The Dees are now a different side with a new coach, a new skipper (well, two) and a new approach. It's still summer in Queensland - there's plenty of humidity around and the Lions and Suns have been training in it for months. Melbourne haven't, and it could surprise them. Both Gold Coast and Brisbane have both made significant strides over the break and their respective coaches are delighted with their development. But is it enough to progress? We'll back Melbourne here, but an upset or two could be on the cards.