Gold Coast has temporarily taken its eyes off the finals race and stripped its season back to basics after a horror past fortnight.

Following successive upset losses against the Western Bulldogs and Brisbane Lions, the SUNS have slid to 10th place and will likely need to win four of their final five matches to qualify for a maiden finals appearance.

But defender Trent McKenzie, returning from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the two losses, said Gold Coast had to keep things simple.

"We've brought it right back to basics," he said.

"We're going to start from the first quarter and the first contest we're involved in.

"If we can go from there and win the second and hopefully win the third and fourth, and just go from there."

The thumping left-footer said the SUNS had gone away from their bread-and-butter in recent weeks, and needed to address it.

He said a "sharp" main training session on Wednesday had the players feeling good about themselves.

"We've gone away from the contested footy, which is where we've been good all year, top five or so, so if we can get back to that, start winning some clearances and start feeding our tall forwards, that'd be a good start," McKenzie said.

"It is hard this time of the year, especially as we saw Zac Smith (ankle) and Dicko (Charlie Dixon, groin) go down as well, but the boys are still upbeat.

"We know we've still got a chance to play finals, so hopefully we can stay injury free and play good footy."

McKenzie is one of four changes to play the Saints, with vice-captain Michael Rischitelli (quad) returning, along with ruckman Dan Gorringe and Timmy Sumner.

"I'll just try to do my role down back. There won't be anything special, back to basics, stop my opponent kicking goals," McKenzie said.