While saying the Suns are one of his least favourite teams, Rockliff conceded they had won respect from the Lions over the past two seasons.
The Lions hold a 3-1 advantage in head-to-head clashes, but trail the Suns on the premiership ladder after two rounds this season.
Rockliff said it was the Lions' job to earn some respect after a 0-2 start followed their NAB Cup success.
"We've let ourselves down, especially the first week," he said before Wednesday's main training session at the Gabba.
"We want to make sure we stamp our foot down this weekend and have a really good game.
"They're (Suns) in some good form at the moment. We're the ones that have got to go and hunt them this weekend so they know we're there for a contest."
Since losing the inaugural QClash in 2011, the Lions have tread far more wearily around their younger opponents.
They won the following two matches by big margins, and Rockliff's late mark and goal in the goalsquare got them over the line at Metricon Stadium last year.
The 23-year-old said he was impressed by the Suns.
"They're not your favourite team, probably one of the least favourite teams. They've come in here, it's our state and we see it that way and we want to hold that up this weekend," he said.
"They've definitely won respect the way they went about it.
"It was always going to be tough for a new team coming in, and especially with the amount of young blokes, it was always going to take a couple of years and they're starting to earn the respect.
"They beat us the first time we played them so I think we always see them as a threat.
"I think we've got along way to go to earn the competition's respect. We haven't achieved anything in the last four or five years."
Michael Whiting covers Brisbane Lions news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting
