Gold Coast is a "long way off" reaching its first final series despite climbing to fifth on the ladder after its 38-point win over St Kilda, SUNS coach Guy McKenna says.

The SUNS have opened 2014 with six wins and two losses, with only ladder-ladder Port Adelaide ahead of them on premiership points after nine rounds.

With a game in hand on the third-placed Sydney Swans, McKenna's team will climb into the top four next Sunday if it defeats the Western Bulldogs at home at Metricon Stadium.

But even after another steller performance at Etihad Stadium, McKenna downplayed talk of the SUNS playing finals, let alone making the top-four.

The coach said making the finals had been the team’s pre-season aim, but the players had been mindful that to do so they would in all likelihood have to win four more games than the eight they won in 2013.

"We have to improve our footy 50 per cent, that was the goal, that's the target, we're not shying away from that," McKenna said.

"We've won six, we've still got another six to go, so if the boys think – and I'm sure they don't – if they think the work's done, we've got a long way to go still."

McKenna highlighted tackling and contested possession as areas for improvement ahead of the Bulldogs clash, with the Saints winning both counts in Sunday's game.

McKenna praised the professionalism of ruckman Zac Smith, who made a successful return against St Kilda after a year out of the game following a knee reconstruction.

The 24-year-old has some massive tests ahead of him, though, with the likes of Will Minson, Sam Jacobs, Dean Cox and Nick Naitanui on his radar in the coming month.

"He's done a power of work (to get back), we understand that," McKenna said.

"I thought first up he was special. He got through, got his hands dirty, got his knees dirty, did all those things, the intercept marks down back.

"But he'll certainly be better for the run."