ALTHOUGH there's been a bit of verbal niggle in the build up to Saturday's QClash, coaches Justin Leppitsch and Rodney Eade agree on one thing.

The match will be won around the contest.

And while that's no great revelation, at their respective press conferences on Friday, both downplayed the element of physical aggression (Eade called it "senseless") and preferred to talk about winning the footy.

The Lions are winless, and coupled with a tough draw the first three weeks, their biggest downfall has been gift-wrapping the ball to the opposition through turnovers.

Leppitsch said that had to change against the red-hot Suns, but his main concern was contested ball numbers.

It's something that has reared its head weekly since he took over as senior coach just over two years ago.

"It's always about the contest," Leppitsch said.

"For us it's about winning that contested ball number. It's a real focus of ours.

"It's a training track focus. It has to soak into games and we have to get better within games."

In the first three rounds the Lions have been slaughtered in contested ball numbers; by 32 against West Coast, 34 against North Melbourne and 11 against Geelong.

Leppitsch says despite losing their first three matches, the Lions have not dropped their heads.

"We're searching for a win," he said.

"We know winning is everything as far as buoyancy around a footy club. You can have honourable losses … but it doesn't change the fact fans, players and coaches like seeing that 'W'.

"People will take an ugly win over a pretty loss.

"They're (Suns) going pretty well, it's good for them, they'd be feel pretty happy and probably coming up here and expecting to belt us.

"We've got to do our thing. Most of the games are won because of what you can control as a footy club, not worrying about what the opposition say or do."