The Gold Coast SUNS could face in-form Essendon big man Jake Carlisle on Saturday with the 22-year-old set to be given until the end of the week to prove his fitness.

Carlisle missed last week’s three-point over West Coast with back spasms, but he ran freely at training on Tuesday and if he continues to improve, will be back on deck for the clash at Etihad Stadium.

Bombers club doctor Bruce Reid said it was too early to make a call on whether coach Mark Thompson will be able to call on one of his key weapons at either end of the ground.

“He is much better today (Tuesday). He is out there running and at this stage we are avoiding anything where he is bending forward,” Dr Reid said.

“We will see how he progresses and if he is right later in the week, he will play. If he is not right, he won’t play.

“It is too early to tell but he is much better.”

Carlisle produced two of the biggest games of the season from any forward in consecutive weeks towards the end of July. Against Collingwood in round 17 he piled up 26 disposals, clunked 19 marks and booted four goals in the 74-point win over the Magpies, then a week later he was the difference in a seven-point triumph over the Western Bulldogs when he booted eight goals on the back of 12 grabs.

Carlisle and GC SUNS forward Tom Lynch both sit in the top-10 across the season for contested marks.

When Carlisle fires, the Bombers tend to win. In victories this season he has averaged 16 touches, nine marks and two goals; in losses those levels drop considerably to 11 possessions, four marks and one goal.

In other injury news, veteran defender Dustin Fletcher has missed the Dons’ past two games, and won’t play against the SUNS, either, with his club opting to send him in for surgery on his dislocated finger.

“He dislocated his finger, but at the time he tore a tendon on the top of his finger which needed repairing,” Dr Reid said.

“He really didn’t have a choice.”