Greater Western Sydney have been forced to work extremely hard to beat Gold Coast and keep alive their AFL top-two hopes.
The Giants were hoping for a percentage-boosting victory over the injury-hit Suns on Saturday at Metricon Stadium but had to eke out a 14.8 (92) to 13.6 (84) win.
Gold Coast held a slender lead late in the fourth quarter but back-to-back goals by Jeremy Cameron and Toby Greene with five minutes to go secured the points for the visitors.
Cameron kicked four goals for the Giants, while Green, the excellent Steve Johnson and Jonathan Patton had two majors each.
Key defender Steven May was superb for the Suns, picking up 27 disposals and 14 marks, while Tom Lynch remains firmly in the Coleman Medal race after a four-goal haul.
Youngster Jarrod Garlett was everywhere in the forward line for the Suns, picking up 18 disposals and a goal.
Brandon Matera and Ryan Davis also chipped in with two majors for the hosts.
The Suns started brightly, kicking the first three goals of the match to show the Giants they were in for a match.
The Giants kept themselves close but had to wait until late in the second term before a Greene behind gave them the lead.
Not until the third term did they get more than a point ahead of the Suns, with a Rory Lobb goal putting the visitors seven points clear.
Within minutes though, the Suns had hit back, goals from Peter Wright and Davis to finish the third term ensuring the home team held a six-point margin at the final turn.
Gold Coast’s effort was particularly brave, given midfielder Alex Sexton failed to finish the match with a left thigh injury, while ruckman Tim Nicholls spent much of the game limping on an injured knee.
The Giants host West Coast next week in what looms as a crucial battle in the race for a top-two spot and the Suns are away at bottom-placed Essendon.