Despite a depressing run of results the coach remains positive and is looking forward to tomorrow night's clash with Queensland Roar.

Speaking after training at Sydney Football Stadium today Kosmina said: "They've (the squad) had a few little body blows that they've had to deal with but like any good fighter, you pick yourself up, get back in and start again, don't you?

"It can wear you down but that's part of being a professional sportsman. You've got to be emotionally and mentally resilient as well as physically.

"It's times like this where you do have your character tested. That's what we're looking at from the players at the moment.

"We've talked about it a lot in recent weeks - about being resilient. You've got to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and work through it.

"It's not just one player. Everyone has to take leadership responsibility.

"Eventually the football will turn around because we are a good footballing side, no-one denies that. We have the best rate of completed passes in the competition, we just need to be a little bit more hungry with them I guess."

By hunger, Kosmina said it was reiterating a point he made earlier in the campaign that his players had to focus on being more aggressive in front of goal and finding the finish.

Having dropped out of the top four, Kosmina acknowledges tomorrow's clash is a big game but refuses to see it as a 'do or die' encounter.

He said: "It is a big game but we've still got eight games after that. If we play well tomorrow like we played well against Adelaide last week, in adverse circumstances, then I'm happy with that.

"The football side will eventually come and the results will come with that."

National Youth League attacker Brendan Gan comes into the squad for the Roar game and Kosmina says the future of the club has to be youth.

He said: "Off the top of my head we'll probably have about six under 20 players next season in a squad of 21 or 22. That's a good percentage but they're all good quality players.

"Provided we can get some good senior guys in to nuture the younger blokes and we invest time in these young guys then I think we've got a good future ahead of us.

"You can't keep just buying players every year and be successful. You have to have a core."

As for the immediate challenge Kosmina is expecting another tough test against Frank Farina's men.

He said: "Charlie Miller drifts into good areas. He's a clever player. We need to be aware of not just the bloke on the ball but when Charlie's around the back of the play as well."

Kosmina revealed that Bobby Petta will start on the left side of midfield with Mitchell Prentice on the right. Alex Brosque will be on the bench once again.

"Bobby is a provider and he'll give us a bit of composure as well. Hopefully he can cause a few problems," said Kosmina.

John Aloisi will continue in attack with Kosmina expecting further improvement week by week.

As for Gan, he's look forward to staking his claim.

The 20-year-old said: "This is why I’m here, I want to play first grade, A-League and (I’m) pretty happy that I got the call up. It’s going to be a big game tomorrow and hopefully I can make an impact.”

The rising Sutherland star gets his chance after in-form midfielder, Terry McFlynn last week suffered a knee injury that will keep him out of the action for the next six-weeks.

John Kosmina has faith in Gan to do a job off the bench against the Roar.

He said: “We’re a little bit down on bodies so it’s a good opportunity for him. He got the player of the season in the NSW Premier League so he’s been in senior company before. We’re in a position where the only choice I’ve got is which youth player to make up the bench with, and Brendan’s the obvious one for me.”