Damien Hardwick is selling the big-picture Gold Coast dream to retain his growing army as the Suns rise higher.
The coach will welcome former club Richmond to Carrara on Saturday, Hardwick lured to the Suns after winning three flags in four seasons at Punt Road.
Fresh off a club-best 12th win this season, the Suns are now on the cusp of a maiden finals campaign, while the Tigers languish in 16th place on the ladder.
Alex Davies, who shone with 30 touches against Brisbane in his first AFL outing this season, has retained his place in a midfield that welcomes back Touk Miller from injury.
Highly rated rookie Leo Lombard makes way, while Hardwick resisted the urge to plunge fit-again Will Graham straight back after a long-term shoulder injury.
Brayden Fiorini and Jy Farrar have forced their way into calculations after brilliant VFL form, at the expense of veteran David Swallow and young gun Jed Walter.
Davies and out-of-favour small forward Malcolm Rosas Jr are among Suns talents on the radars of rival clubs.
"Now he's got a template about what his AFL game could look like ... wonderful player," Hardwick said of Davies.
Contracted until the end of next season, Davies is relishing the Suns' new-found competitiveness, but was non-committal last weekend when asked about his future.
Hardwick is reminding his wider squad of their importance to the cause as they push into new AFL territory.
"It's this time of year and we can understand it, players starved of opportunity," Hardwick said of clubs circling his fringe talent.
"It's silly season ... we're realists, but it does require a village to get to where you need to go.
"While players might not be playing (AFL) at the very present time, you never know what's going to happen at the back end, the most important time.
"We have that conversation, understanding how important they are ... things change pretty quickly in the AFL landscape."
Hardwick said the Suns' historic 12th win this season - a club-best 66-point defeat of the Lions - was only briefly celebrated before focus turned to the Tigers.
The Suns (12-6) have a game in hand on their top-eight rivals and play four teams in the bottom half of the ladder in their final five games.
But Richmond (5-14) upset the Suns earlier this season in a game Hardwick remembers for poor inside-50 connection and low defensive pressure.
"And now Richmond are probably playing the best footy they've played in their time under (coach Adem) Yze," he said.
"We've got to make sure we stifle that as best we can. Things change, but you certainly look at the last time you played a side."
