After a month of misery, Brisbane coach Ben Cahn says there is a sense of urgency among his players to reverse their A-League Men slide against the Newcastle Jets.
The Roar have lost their past four games to slip from inside the top four to ninth spot on the ladder.
During that period they also lost former head coach Ross Aloisi to greener pastures.
Aloisi's replacement, assistant coach Luciano Trani, was promoted, but then demoted after December's 8-1 loss to Melbourne City, before Cahn was hired.
Unite Round at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Sunday is a chance for the Roar to regain their confidence against the 10th-placed Jets.
The Roar need to get back in the winners' circle, and they need to do it soon.
Cahn said his side showed “fight and intent” after going behind early during last week's 2-1 loss to Sydney FC.
“We go to Sydney to come back with three points. The players are hungry," he said.
“We are in touching distance of the teams at the top, and if we start to put a run together now we can be right up there.
“It’s been a difficult month to six weeks for the players. These weeks are about progress.
"There is a real urgency in the group to win it, but it is not a catastrophe and disaster zone if we don’t.
"There is still plenty of time for us to build on what we want to do and bring in some reinforcements to make sure we can finish the season strong."
Cahn wants his players to create more in the front third this week.
He said Young Socceroos striker Tom Waddingham was a chance to return from a shoulder injury after a solid week of training.
The rapport between midfielder Florin Berenguer and winger Nikola Mileusnic has been a highlight of the Roar’s best attack, and Cahn is hoping for more of that spark against Newcastle.
“Florin had a difficult period out with injury and he came back in against Sydney and did really well and lasted 60 minutes,'' Cahn said.
"There are another few levels of conditioning he can go up, but he’s been really good at training.
“Nikola's work ethic has been so important for us, and he came up with the goal that got us back into the game.
"They are essential for us to do well.”
