By Michael Whiting

Gold Coast SUNS coach Guy McKenna will focus on physically mature players at the selection table ahead of Saturday night's match against the Brisbane Lions, saying "birth certificates have been ripped up".

It follows last week's capitulation to Essendon where a number of McKenna's lighter framed players were exposed.

"We know it'll be brutally tough, a mentally tough game and we're going to need 22 boys that can stand their ground and if you can't, we can't play you, simple as that," McKenna said.

"So there'll be some horses for courses and based on the showing last week a few blokes have put themselves in danger of missing out this week. They may have got good stats but physically were found wanting, some of those boys have put themselves at risk.

"Birth certificates have been ripped up, it's now on the scales, so if you're a jockey weight, unless you're really quick and get some stoppages, I don't like your chances this week."

The focus on bulk means the Gold Coast SUNS could unleash exciting tall forward Sam Day in the inaugural Queensland clash, after Charlie Dixon sustained a calf injury in the loss to Essendon.

The 196cm, 96kg forward was taken at No.3 in last year's National Draft and had scouts from around the country salivating at his athleticism and agility.

The South Australian recorded a vertical leap of 81cm and turned his back on potential careers in both baseball and basketball.

Dixon hobbled off in the final quarter of Sunday's loss against Essendon and GC SUNS coach Guy McKenna said he expected scans today to confirm that his robust centre half-forward would miss a couple of weeks.

However Dixon's misfortune paves the way for either Day or Tom Lynch to make their debut, although it seemed McKenna was leaning the way of the South Australian.

"Those boys would be in pole position," McKenna said.

"Sam Day has had some time to get fit, he's probably still not cherry ripe, but we may have to get him in the baptism of fire early."

Day had a shoulder issue that interrupted his pre-season.

"Tom Lynch is another one. Glandular fever cut his pre-season down a bit but he's had some really good performances in the seconds, he played the last two, we think he has a good base level of fitness, he's a competitor, he's a bit of a beast, he likes the physical contact, so he's another one we could look at putting in that position as well," McKenna said.