Gold Coast is preparing to step up and fight for Rodney Eade against West Coast.

The Eagles are without star forward Josh Kennedy while the SUNS will be boosted by the return of Gary Ablett for the clash at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.

The SUNS sit in 16th with three wins, but Jack Leslie believes the recent criticism of coach Eade will spur the team on against the seventh-placed Eagles.

"It drives us a little bit more if he's getting flogged in the media – we're not up for that," Leslie said.

"Most of the stuff he cops should be on the players, it's what we dished up, it's been effort, our contest, our pressure.

"He can't control much of that at all, but he's been copping it for our actions."

Leslie is adamant about the quality of Eade and says one only needs to look at what's happened behind the scenes to understand things are improving for the SUNS.

"The thing people don't really see is the cultural standards which have changed since I joined in 2014," Leslie said.

"The amount of professionalism and the change of culture has been massive and that's all on the back of Rocket."

"A few years ago the team were playing with a fair bit of flair and the work ethic and discipline off the field wasn't there. Where as now, we've really set the building blocks and hopefully it's only a one-way road upwards."