While Collingwood focuses on locking down Gold Coast skipper Gary Ablett, the GC SUNS have their eyes firmly set on taming monster Magpie forward Travis Cloke.

On the eve of the crunch round 16 match at Metricon Stadium, SUNS coach Guy McKenna has labelled Cloke Collingwood's "spiritual leader", likening him to former Magpie Anthony Rocca.

McKenna said the 196cm, 108kg man mountain was a major focus, and he expected the SUNS defensive unit to get inside Cloke's head.

Cloke admitted to some mental demons earlier in the year, and that dropping marks and missing goals was affecting his confidence.

McKenna said he expected Steven May, Rory Thompson and the rest of the SUNS' back six to "offer some advice" to the 27-year-old.

"If I was playing, I'd like to think I could (get in his head)," McKenna said.

"Cloke’s got a new routine with his goalkicking, which we'll certainly remind him about - hoping it's going well for him, when he's having his first shot."

McKenna was an assistant coach at Collingwood under Mick Malthouse before taking the Gold Coast job, and said Cloke was a barometer for them.

After a slow start to the season, the powerhouse forward has found form, kicking 19 goals in his past five matches.

"He's a dangerous player for them," McKenna said.

"He reminds me of … Anthony Rocca, he was almost the spiritual leader of Collingwood. When Anthony Rocca played well, Collingwood played well.

"You know what you get out of (Dane) Swan, (Scott) Pendelbury, (Dayne) Beams …. but I reckon when Travis Cloke lights up, the rest of Collingwood lights up. He's certainly a big focus for us."

While May has worked his way into All- Australian contention with a stellar season at fullback, McKenna said Thompson – who did a magnificent job on Cloke in last year's upset seven-point win – could also be an option.

The battle between sixth and eighth on the ladder is expected to push the Metricon Stadium attendance record of 23,302 and could come close to the 27,000 capacity.

"We want to make this place a fortress," McKenna said.

"I think our first base, our first port-of-call is making our home ground a fearsome place to come and play."