I would hold off on defol buddy.
Pre flower is a growth phase. And direct light on the bud is not needed at this stage.
When she stops growing upwards pre flower is over. I still like to wait a few days even up to a wk and then get in their with defoliation. Yes, it's an auto. But you're in a tent. Some will say you shouldn't. Try tell that to them when your RH goes beyond 70. I've a dehumidifier. But, defol done at the right stage. Making sure to leave a main set of fan leaves at the top or as close to on each node, also any leafs at at the end, (were no bud is below them they can mainly be left, some might be needed to be removed to allow for better air flow up through your canopy.
It looks like she'll start building clayxs now. So you're very close, if not in the stage of defol. But, they look to have a low leaf-calyx ratio which is good. So maybe just rotate your autos and if your RH is an issue you can then lower it be doing a 10-15% defol crop wide.