THEY might still be outsiders to make the top eight, but don't tell Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna, who is urging his men to "shoot for the stars".
After preaching development and ability to hang in matches for longer throughout the first half of the year, McKenna now admits he has discussed the possibility of finals with his team.
Gold Coast (5-7) is two wins outside the top eight ahead of Saturday's crunch match with Adelaide (5-7) at Metricon Stadium.
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They then play the Brisbane Lions the following week, and statistically have the easiest draw of any team over the final 10 rounds.
Prior to Friday's light training in the drizzly Gold Coast rain, McKenna said the Suns would be foolish to not aim high.
"I think there's a saying out there, 'If you reach for the stars you might land on the moon'. That's what we have to do," McKenna said.
"Privately I've said to the group … purely on five home games and five away games, if you win those (home) you win 10 games.
"Last year 13 games got you in … I'm thinking it's at least 12, might be 13 (this year). Imagine winning 10 and being two games short? What a waste.
"Just to think, 'Five and seven is good enough, let's put the cue in the rack' - you'd kick yourself."
Like his chairman, John Witheriff, who said last November that the Suns would win a premiership by 2015, McKenna said that was the main reason you played footy.
He said although the Suns should be happy with the first half of their season, they had to finish the back half stronger.
The stiff task of making the top eight starts with the Crows, who have smashed the Suns in all four previous contests by an average margin of 70 points.
Gold Coast has made five changes to the team that lost against Essendon prior to the bye, including the return of Karmichael Hunt from hamstring tendonitis.
He has played two matches in the reserves following the injury, and McKenna said his hard body should be a big help.
"Against a solid, physical Adelaide side, we need solid, physical players to match that and he's certainly one of those," he said.
One senior player still playing reserves despite being fit again is Jared Brennan, who McKenna said "had things to fix up".
He expected his return to the seniors shortly, but said the improvement from the entire squad was now making selections more difficult.
Experience and reputation is no longer enough, he said.
"Adelaide are probably two to three years older than us, their experience is almost double ours. That makes it a tough game and they've got some hard, strong bodies around the footy," McKenna said.
"I'm sure they're going to be desperate this weekend."
Michael Whiting covers Gold Coast news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting
