Once beaten, twice shy.

Don’t expect coach Nathan Buckley to make the same mistake he did last year – not tagging Gold Coast superstar Gary Ablett.

A free-roaming Ablett tallied 49 disposals to boost the Suns to a shock victory at Metricon Stadium in 2013, when Brent Macaffer instead shadowed Trent McKenzie.

Buckley admitted deciding who to send Macaffer to had become even harder since, with Dion Prestia and Harley Bennell headlining widespread improvement at the expansion club.

But the call had been made before the Magpies trained on Tuesday – shut down the space of the Suns’ skipper.

“He would be our No.1 target,” Buckley said of the 30-year-old on track to win a third Brownlow Medal.

“As the best player in the comp, he stands out as a tag target.

“If you try to affect some of his possessions, you’re probably going to be better off.”

Macaffer is earning widespread acclaim for his run-with jobs this season.

Buckley didn’t bother feigning indecision when asked who would mind Ablett.

“Caff’s our best defensive mid. Ablett’s the opposition’s best attacking mid. I reckon you’ll see them spend some time on each other,” he said.

Buckley described it as one of many important match-ups that will determine the result.

“They’ve got weapons all over the field,” he said, rattling off the names of Prestia, Bennell, David Swallow, Michael Rischitelli, Jaeger O’Meara and half-back flankers McKenzie and Jarrod Harbrow.

Defensive general Nick Maxwell (calf) is in line to return after missing four games, Buckley suggesting the ex-skipper doesn’t need a week in the VFL to gain fitness.

“He feels like he’s ready to go. But he’s got a few hurdles to jump before we give him the green light,” he said.

Jamie Elliott (hamstring) is likely to miss the trip north, but Tom Langdon (concussion) and Marley Williams (ankle) are both in the frame to board the plane.

Ben Reid (quad) is also set to return via the reserves.

“It’s a constant battle and – just when you think you’ve got on top of it – it’ll bite you on the arse,” Buckley said of his side’s injury woes this season.

“… No doubt, we can put a competitive 22 out there against any opposition and, given our best football, we can beat any opposition.”