Dion Prestia isn't buying into the doom and gloom around Gold Coast - but he's still not ready to open up contract talks with the battling AFL club.
Prestia declared on Tuesday the Suns, winless in their past five matches and ravaged by injury, were still capable of climbing off the canvas and making the finals this season.
But the off-contract midfielder, who is being courted by Melbourne clubs, says he has no plans to bring forward discussions over a new deal.
"At the moment, we're not in great form and I know we can reach a higher potential than where we are at the moment," Prestia said.
"My manager and the club are constantly in talks.
"I'm not there yet in my own expectations and form, so I'll continue to build that and my manager will look after the contract talks with the club."
Prestia, 23, said earlier in the year he would hold off negotiations with the Suns until the June mid-season bye.
The Victorian has been restricted in his output by a knee injury, one he says he is on top of but will have to manage for the remainder of his career.
Fellow on-ballers David Swallow, Jaeger O'Meara, Michael Rischitelli, Alex Sexton and Matt Rosa are also injured, while skipper Gary Ablett is in doubt for this weekend's clash with Adelaide due to concussion.
But Prestia is staying optimistic through the tough times in the belief it will all be worth it in the long run.
"When we're all back out there together, it'll be a lot better than it has been in the past. That's the way I'll look at it," he said.
Prestia also believes the top eight is not out of the question for the Suns - all they need is just one drought-breaking, confidence-boosting win to break them out of their slump.
"If we could just get one win and that could set us up for the rest of the year ... anything can happen," Prestia said.
"Once we get that one win under the belt, the boys will be back to what they do.
"We still expect and want to play finals. That's where we're heading.
"If it's with 15 blokes injured, if it's with no blokes injured, we still think we can make finals and that's what we're pushing to."
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