Similar conversations have taken place in both camps as Gold Coast convince themselves two-time premiers Brisbane are no spent force and the Lions try to get their groove back.
The rivals meet in a Saturday QClash for the first time since Chris Fagan's side rolled past the Suns in the second week of last year's AFL finals series.
They then marched to a second straight flag but, after moving to 6-3 this season, they have struggled in a trio of losses that's left them ninth and looking for answers.
"While people will say that they might be a football club on their knees, we ... know what a formidable opponent we're coming up against," Suns coach Damien Hardwick said on Thursday.
