BRISBANE defender Nick Robertson has lit the QClash fuse, labelling Gold Coast "soft" ahead of their match at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.

Just a day after coaches Stuart Dew and Chris Fagan went out of their way to talk down the significance of the match at a joint media conference, Robertson teed off.

Speaking on Macquarie Sports Radio on Thursday afternoon, the 23-year-old said the clubs couldn't stand each other.

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"I'm looking forward to getting stuck into them on the weekend and so are all the other boys," Robertson said.

"I reckon they're soft to be completely honest so I'm looking forward to getting into them.

"It's just the rivalry. They reckon they're the team in Queensland and so do we."

When pressed further on his comments, Robertson didn't back down.

"I think they take a bit of a backward step when blokes go hard at the footy," he said.

"I hope they hear that too."

Fagan spoke on Melbourne radio station 3AW later in the day and made it known how unhappy he was with Robertson's comments.

"I had a chat with him this afternoon," Fagan said.

"I was none too happy at all because it doesn't reflect our view of the Gold Coast Suns, it's more Nick's feeling towards them.

"He's probably gone off and said those things and now regrets them. I think he'll learn a valuable lesson from this.

"He's going to front up on the weekend and it's going to be on.

"He's got to put his head over the footy and play hard and tough."

Fagan said Robertson would "take those words back" if he had his time again.

"It's obviously great motivation for the Gold Coast Suns and something we need to prepare ourselves for on the weekend," he added.

Gold Coast won the round five contest by five points at the Gabba, and despite the Lions being broadly recognised as having the more impressed season, both teams have four wins.

Brisbane will be without Darcy Gardiner for the match after the defender underwent successful shoulder surgery on Tuesday.