By Michael Whiting

Josh Fraser has encouraged his young Gold Coast SUNS teammates to take the game on more against Richmond on Saturday following a lacklustre loss to the Sydney Swans last weekend.

Fraser (foot) is one of four inclusions to the GC SUNS team that suffered the 70-point defeat, with Rex Liddy, Josh Toy and Matt Shaw joining the big ruckman in the team to travel to Cairns.

Rugby league convert Karmichael Hunt is being rested, while Dan Gorringe, Luke Russell and Brandon Matera have also missed out.

Captain Gary Ablett (knee) has been named and is expected to be passed fit when the team flies north on Friday.

Fraser said the GC SUNS were too tentative against the Swans and would need to rectify that against a Tigers outfit he rated extremely highly.

"I think we need to take the game on more. I think we fell into the trap of playing Sydney's style of footy last week and their bigger bodies knocked us around so we need to play with a bit of flair and take the game on like we had been doing up until last weekend," he said.

"When we do that, I think we've shown we're capable of scoring enough to get a result."

Coach Guy McKenna described the Swans match as one of the GC SUNS worst efforts of the season and Fraser said the appraisal was fair but did not sit well with the players.

"That's one thing I've been really impressed with the guys, they usually respond well," Fraser said.

"They were hurt by that [performance] and Bluey was really honest with the group and we needed to hear it.

"Training's been good this week. I know it doesn't count for a hell of a lot, but at least our mindset is turning [to the point] that we're ready to go each week, so expect a much better effort against a pretty good opposition this week."

The 202cm former Collingwood ruckman said he expected the Tigers to rebound strongly from a hammering to Carlton and last quarter capitulation against Essendon in the past two weeks.

Although Richmond lost in the Darwin heat against Port Adelaide earlier this season, Fraser said he did not expect any advantage by playing in another tropical climate in Cairns.

"They're a pretty good side the Tiges," he said.

"We see every weekend as a real opportunity to win. I think we've shown over the course of the year our best footy is pretty good and competitive.

"When we drop away is when we get found out a bit, so I think we go into most weeks knowing if we play close to four quarters we can get the result we're after but we're certainly not taking Richmond as a given.

"I think they've shown this year their best footy is as good as the top four or five sides so it's a big test for us. Coming off a loss last week, they'll be keen to get back on the winner's list."

Fraser will spend most of his time forward alongside first-year players Tom Lynch and Charlie Dixon and share some time in the ruck with Zac Smith.