READY to tackle the Gold Coast Suns tonight at Metricon Stadium, Lachlan Keeffe says he does not expect the whole of Gympie to make the three-hour drive to watch him play.

His parents and friends are relishing the opportunity of having Keeffe back into the sunshine state though – and will head down to the Gold Coast.

Dad Matt Keeffe yesterday said it had been hard for some to get tickets for the game.

He said his son’s Gympie friends and old Marist Brothers boarding school mates had been able to secure entry.

This will be Keeffe’s third game playing for the Collingwood Magpies after the former Gympie soccer player was drafted four years ago.

Since then he has played 20 games in the VFL and in 2010 was promoted to the club’s senior list.

He had been on “emergency” about six times before finally getting his debut three weeks ago.