Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna has implored his youngsters to strut - not stagger - to the finish line as they approach their final game of their inaugural season against Hawthorn on Saturday.
The end is in sight for the Suns and a brutal first year in the AFL will finally reach its conclusion when they face the Hawks at Metricon Stadium this weekend.
But ending the year against a top-four side is an almighty task and the players, battered and bruised after a marathon campaign, could be forgiven for wanting it all to be over already.
That attitude won't sit well with McKenna, who is trying to squeeze four more quarters out of his men to deliver supporters and sponsors a message of 'hope' for next year and beyond.
He believes one last effort from the Suns will help gather some momentum heading into their November training camp in Arizona and their sophomore year in the AFL.
"It's important we finish well," he said.
"You prefer to go out flying the flag and charging off into the pre-season rather than losing, limping and getting whacked. It leaves a bitter taste in your mouth."
"We're all dealing in hope, at this football club. We're hoping these kids get through reasonably unscathed through the course of this year."
"(We're hoping) they go into the pre-season on the back of a hard and strong effort against Hawthorn with some confidence."
"That's what we need to do as a team, so their teammates can actually see it and see the belief and development in some of their own teammates."
"Then supporters see that, sponsors see that and there's a flow-on effect. The belief and hope in the group improves. Then we go to Arizona with our tails up, rather than being stuck between our legs."
Describing just how much of a toll this year has taken on their young bodies - in particular, their schedule, which featured 15 consecutive games since their second bye in Round 9 - McKenna said his players were 'like kids in a candy shop' in February.
"There was an element of youth and being excited," he said.
"But after 15 weeks in the candy shop the lustre of the chocolates and the lollies starts to wear off a bit because of the amount of work and how brutal the game is."
A quick look at Gold Coast's injury list will confirm how unforgiving 2011 has been for them - not only for the side's youngsters, but the senior players who have led the way for them.
But the battle will be above the shoulders this weekend, according to McKenna.
"We can't mentally concentrate for a full four quarters. If nothing else, it is a mental challenge this week," he said.
"We know if we back off against Hawthorn we'll get opened up like we have done against any side."
"They're one of the best sides (in terms of) their ferocity at the footy and we have to match that. That's not a physical thing, it's a mental challenge."