By Michael Whiting
Gold Coast is facing a midfield crisis ahead of it's match against North Melbourne on Saturday after Michael Rischitelli went down with an ankle injury on Wednesday.
Rischitelli was assisted from the SUNS training field on a medicab late in the session after falling awkwardly.
Although the damage has not been assessed yet, he is in extreme doubt to take on the Kangaroos at Etihad Stadium.
Captain Gary Ablett (knee) will already miss the match, while no.1 NAB AFL Draft pick David Swallow (hip) is also in doubt after missing training on Wednesday.
Gold Coast SUNS assistant coach Shane O'Bree said Rischitelli would be assessed on Thursday and Friday.
"We'll give him an opportunity to get up for the game but if he's not 100 per cent fit we won't play him," O'Bree said.
"We can't afford to go in with underdone players."
O'Bree, the SUNS midfield coach, said Swallow had done everything he could since suffering the hip complaint in last weekend's loss against the Brisbane Lions.
"He's done ice baths, massages, physio for the last three days," he said.
"He's done enough training pre-season so it's not a fitness thing with him at all. It's just giving his sore spots enough time to heal so he's right to play on the weekend, which I think at this stage he should be a fair chance."
The SUNS have had a shocking week with injuries after in-form small defender Jarrod Harbrow was ruled out for at least eight weeks with a dislocated elbow.
One player who looks likely to benefit from the injury toll is Western Australian rookie Kyal Horsley, who is set to be elevated to the senior list following Harbrow's long-term injury.
Gold Coast SUNS have lodged paperwork with the AFL and if cleared, Horsley could play as soon as Saturday.
O'Bree was putting a positive spin on the dilemma, saying the midfield structure would not change despite the new names that will have to come in.
"It will probably give another young guy an opportunity to play in the midfield and play on the Kangaroos' midfield, which is going pretty well at the moment.
"They're probably a couple of years advanced on where we'd like to be. Whoever plays in Rischa's, Gazza's, Swallow's spot this week, it's another great opportunity to learn from a young player that's a couple of years in front of them."
O'Bree said despite the SUNS 0-4 start to the season, he had seen definite signs of improvement from the young midfield group including Swallow, Dion Prestia and Josh Caddy.
He said things were much tougher in the second season.
"I believe they have improved. Opposition are doing a lot more homework on them and know their strengths and weaknesses, where last year they probably let us play," he said.
"Now they know what we're good at, so those guys have to work harder for longer … you've got to keep concentrating, keep working hard on the training track, keep studying the opposition."
