Removing Solid Stain and Re-Staining - First Timer - Please help!

Hi all – thank you for the resources, could use some guidance/sanity check my planned approach

We live in Toronto, Canada, purchased a house with a 300 sq ft deck, it was stained with a solid stain (unkn

own), older wood, stain peeling, nails seems ok and floor is quite flat

Want to move to a clear or semi-transparent stain – Sansin Dec –

Curious on the process

1) Strip current stain with sander? thinking of using Diamabrush on angle grinder –

2) Is it easier to use a chemical stripper (before, after, or instead of sander)? or a large floor sander rental?

3) Clean and Brighten, is this needed?

4) Apply Stain once dry

Pictures below, main question is related to the recommended stripping/cleaning/brightening process,

what is the best option / sequence (diamabrush, floor sander, pressure washer, chemical stripper)

many thanks in advance