Brisbane coach Michael Voss doesn’t have to waste hours scouring over match video or detailed match statistics to detect a major factor behind his pre-season cup winners’ poor start to the AFL season.

The answer is evident in their sluggish starts and can be fixed by a better attitude, hunger and commitment from the opening bounce – not to mention the eagerly-awaited comeback of inspirational midfielder Simon Black, who is on target to return from his off-season knee surgery against West Coast at the Gabba on Saturday.

Three of Brisbane’s opening four first quarters on the road – against the Western Bulldogs (down by 31), North Melbourne (behind by 32) and last week against premiers Sydney (40 down) – are as glaring as it gets for any coach.

The same kind of slow start against West Coast could risk a similar flogging to the 98-point effort dished out by the Eagles last season.

“We need to fight to get our hands on the football and be prepared to run when it’s our turn and we need to do that right from the first siren,” said Voss on Wednesday.

“Last week against Sydney we needed to return fire early but we didn’t.

“We have to do that against the West Coast. We have to apply that pressure from the start.

“That’s up to the whole group. It’s not left up to any one particular individual.

“The game starts in the midfield and we need to get that drive from there which will be a pretty key area again this weekend.”

Black’s return alone won’t solve Brisbane’s problems.

But the champion midfielder, who has come through three outings with the club’s reserves, can remind teammates of the effort and pressure on the ball that is required to win games.

Voss wasn’t prepared to give too much away about the way he would use the 34 year-old triple premiership winner in his 315th game for the club.

“We have to look at all options and make sure we do it right,” said Voss before Black trained with the side on Wednesday morning.

“We have to appreciate he hasn’t completed a lot of the pre-season so he’s taken a lot of time to get going.

“He’s had to play a couple of games but the advantage he has is that he has numerous pre-seasons under his belt and it’s more a case of getting him some fitness.

“We have to keep in mind we just can’t pull the trigger and have him all guns blazing and that he may have to work his way back into the team and into form.”