Senior Coach Craig McRae has addressed the media ahead of his side’s blockbuster Friday night clash with North Melbourne.

McRae touched on the Pies’ big win in a fiery clash with Gold Coast, where the side is placed, and the team’s key players who are stepping up.

On the win against the SUNS

“We internally reward our spirit. There’s definitely a coming together and an energy when we rally together,” he said.

“We love our inspirational leaders in Nick and Bruzzy in particular.

“We’ve got to stand for something and that’s something we’ve reviewed, and we’ll continue to water what we want to grow.

“I think anyone watching that game would’ve been excited. Seeing our players walk in at half time with a real look in their eye and an energy, as a coach you go ‘how do we get that?’

“Sometimes you’ve got to manufacture it but you want your players to be dialled in and hungry.”

On Maynard and Daicos’ captaincy in Darcy Moore’s absence

“It’s a great balance both of them have. The will to win, you see Nick’s reaction after the siren and you use Brayden saying’ come on boys, we’re going to go get this’,” he said.

“Obviously with Darcy out for the rest of the year, they’ve been sharing it when they’ve both been playing.

“When Brayden was out, Nick was inspirational in his own right and it’s not a bad dup at the moment.”

On the fitness of Scott Pendlebury and Isaac Quaynor

“Pendles trained today and he’s put himself up to be available,” he said.

“Quaynor not quite there, he did most of the session and got a little bit sore late, so he’s close, but he won’t play this week.”

On the race for finals

“We never put ceilings on anything,” he said.

“One of our players was interviewed after the game by one of our staff last week and the question was like ‘you must be excited by having the wildcard there as a target’ and I’m sitting there like ‘no way, why would we sell ourselves short’.

“We’re in the game to be the best we possibly can, we’re still in the qualifying phase, seven games to go.

“For me that’s seven opportunities to makes the most of those games.”