@
gn0me
No, simply because there are more enemies to hit your trainer at the start. Hast, Defend, Rally could work, but it depends on RNG. And you're correct that Haste needs to be used right after Meditate, and it's because that's the Ambush turn, and not your "actual" turn. Turn order on the actual turns, and not the Ambush turns, is weird with how it updates: you can predict it, but it's weird and hard to explain.
Since there are 2 fod to eat up damage, the enemies have a higher chance not to hit your trainer the first time they go, but then the fod
should be dead, and your trainer is the only target (hence we use Rally then Defend).
You can give it a try if you'd like, and see if RNG likes you or not, but probability should say Haste, Rally, Elim is the way to go.
Also, Rally should last until the last enemy, and Haste should run out the turn before (but the turn order carries over for that last turn, so it's still applied). All in all, Defend eating a turn shouldn't affect the outcome except for 4 packs (but you should refresh those anyways).