Karmichael Hunt says for proof the SUNS are capable of turning things around in a week you only have to look at last year's clash with Essendon.

The Bombers handed the Gold Coast SUNS a shock 139 point hiding at Etihad Stadium in Rd 6 last year but the following week Guy McKenna's men defeated arch rivals the Brisbane Lions in the first Q Clash.

"When we look back at that game we have to remember how we responded to it and were able to turn things around against Brisbane,'' he said.

Hunt said the entire group had been left in no doubt by Bluey McKenna that last week's performance against St Kilda wasn't up to scratch.

"We let ourselves down,'' he said.

This week Hunt and his team mates have worked hard on the contested side of footy at training and the sessions have been quite physical.

"It took me back to my days in league, whenever we came off a loss we would be in the sandpits tackling or on the grass doing full contact work,'' he said.

"It is the oldest coaching trick in the book but it works because it reinforces that you have to do the hard yards to reap the rewards.''

Hunt revealed Bluey had given the side a "bake" after the loss to St Kilda and said the players had responded brilliantly.

He said the attitude at training had been first class all week and he hoped it would carry into Saturday's clash with the Bombers at Metricon Stadium.

"We know we can turn things around if we have the right attitude,'' he said.

One area of focus was ensuring the side was switched-on from the very start and make sure the opposition didn't get of to a flyer like both Adelaide and St Kilda have been able to do.

Another key is to be alert to any occasion the opposition may gain some momentum and be prepared to increase defensive effort to halt their charge.

Hunt said the side could accept it when they had defended well and set-up their structures properly and sides still managed to score against them.

But what wasn't acceptable was when the team didn't do enough to nullify the opposition.

That is what they have worked on fixing this week.