In the Jets' 11 losses, they have given up the first goal nine times.

In six of the defeats, the opposition has scored inside eight minutes.

The past fortnight has seen a sterner resolve, coming from behind to secure a 1-all draw with Perth and 2-all stalemate against Macarthur.

"We haven't been hard to beat in a lot of games," Topor-Stanley said. "In the last two games, we have shown a little bit of steel.

"Clearly over the course of the season we haven't been good enough. We have been competitive without having that real edge to us, where we have been hard to beat and maximised our chances in front of goal. That is something we need to improve."

The Jets take on Western United at AAMI Park on Monday, the first of two games in the Victorian capital in four days.

In their last encounter on April 5, Western United went in front after 36 seconds and held the 1-0 margin despite the Jets dominating for large periods.

"We have to be aggressive," Topor-Stanley said. "We can't let players like [Alessandro] Diamanti have time to pick passes. He is too good to give respect to in terms of time and space on the ball. [Besart] Berisha's record speaks for itself. I hope he never scores against me ever.

"We have stopped a run of losses, which is a positive, but we have to build, we have to want better. We have to push each other to get back to winning ways. That is what good teams do.

"Regardless of the position on the ladder, regardless of any circumstances, they keep pushing and keep believing. If we can do that we will be in a better space."

In a boost, captain Nigel Boogaard, utility Jason Hoffman and young defenders Johnny Koutroumbis and Lucas Mauragis trained strongly on Wednesday and appear close to return from injuries.

"It provides a lift absolutely," Topor-Stanley said. "The best teams always have players competing for positions."

At the end of training, Boogaard called the team into a huddle away from the coaching staff and addressed the group.

Asked what the skipper said, Topor-Stanley replied: "That will remain between the group."

Steve Ugarkovic completed the session but admitted to being "sore" as he walked off the pitch. The midfielder confirmed he has arthritis in his lower back and is taking regular medication.

The clash against Western United will be Topor-Stanley's 101^st consecutive appearance going back to round one of the 2017-18 season. He is the second player in the A-League to notch 100 straight, behind Ugarkovic who reached 105 before his back flared up.

Incredibly Topor-Stanley has played every minute of every game.

"It is an honour whenever I have pulled this shirt on," he said. "I have taken the attitude that tomorrow could be the last day. I need to maximise every day that I am a football because you are a long time retired."

"Clearly I have had a lot of help along the way. People have believed in me, My wife keeps head space clear off the field. It really is a team game."

As well as staying injury, Topor-Stanley has avoided suspension from card accumulation.

"As I famous footballer once said: if I have made a tackle as a defender I have already made a mistake somewhere else," the veteran reckoned. "The longer I have been in this game, the more I have learned to organise players around me and the less I have to do. If I am left one-on-one all the time and I have to do a lot of tackling, that is a problem. We have left gaps and haven't done our job somewhere else."