GOLD Coast coach Rodney Eade says his team, which has lost its last five games by an average of 87 points, can still play finals football in 2016.

Speaking after West Coast thrashed the Suns by 77 points at Domain Stadium, Eade said up to nine players would be available to return from injury for the game against the Sydney Swans at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.

Full match coverage and stats

Eade said up to five of those players would be chosen.

“I think we can certainly help shape the eight and that might mean that we might be able to push for it,” he said.

“We look forward to the challenge of the teams we play and get as many wins as we can and that’s what we want to be able to do.”

Five talking points: West Coast v Gold Coast

But Eade said he would continue to instruct his team to play attacking football while it was undermanned, even if it led to big losses that cost the team percentage.

“It’s an interesting one. You can play ultra-defensive and then we don’t score. I think at times today our ball movement was quite pleasing. We just didn’t kick goals,” he said.

“I don’t really want to take that away from players … I would rather them to be able to draw on some positive bits of play and be able to attack rather than go back in their shell.

“And if that means it (the margin) goes over a bit (then so be it). Lose by 10 goals or lose by 15 goals, it’s the same.”

Watch Rodney Eade's full post-match press conference

Eade was happy with the effort of his players despite several “horrendous” turnovers and also singled out full-back Steven May for praise after his first game back from a five-week suspension.

May kept Eagles forward Josh Kennedy to five goals, while captain Gary Ablett also performed well.

Eade said Kade Kolodjashnij, who was replaced in the selected side by Mackenzie Willis, was suffering a recurrence of the abdominal pain he had in pre-season. Aaron Hall appeared to injure his left shoulder during the first quarter, but recovered to play out the match.