Returns outweigh possible casualties

THE Suns chances of avoiding a second straight QClash defeat have been bolstered by the potential return of up to five players from injury.

Gold Coast will be without Aaron Hall for Saturday’s derby against the Brisbane Lions after suffering a hamstring injury in the club’s 23point loss to Fremantle.

But those coming in may far outweigh any losses with Jarryd Lyons (ankle), Jarrod Witts (shoulder/foot), David Swallow (groin), Jack Leslie (ankle) and Brayden Fiorini (hamstring) all chances of playing.

“Aaron Hall’s been in really good form for us this year when he has played so that is disappointing but in saying that this week we will probably get a handful of guys that will be available,” Suns assistant coach Matthew Primus said.

“All those guys are a chance to play if they get through our main session on Thursday.

“It was disappointing to lose the (against Fremantle) but we should be pretty strong come this weekend.”

The potential returns couldn’t be more timely for the Suns who have lost their past five games and will come up against a Brisbane team that came close to beating premiers the Bulldogs at the weekend.

Hall could be absent for a minimum of two weeks but with just three games left his 2017 campaign may be over.

But Primus said the club wouldn’t put him on ice and if he was fit for their Round 23 game against Port Adelaide then the Suns wouldn’t hesitate to play him.

“We are thinking it’s not a really bad hamstring,” Primus said.

“He didn’t significantly pull up on it so hopefully we can get him back at some stage this year.

“He is in our best 22 so just because finals aren’t on the horizon and those types of things – if he is fit and available and we still have a game to play we will certainly make sure he is out there.”