There is no certainty when Gold Coast midfielder and reigning Brownlow Medallist Matt Rowell will return to the senior side after he fractured his finger in the pre-season State of Origin clash.
The word from the Suns was Rowell would return following the club's Round 3 bye, but coach Damien Hardwick didn't give supporters confidence as to when.
"He's never far from my thoughts," Hardwick quipped.
"I'm not going to lie, he's probably the last thing I go to sleep thinking about, and the first thing I think about when I wake up.
"But what I do know is our timeline has changed with that. We'll reassess once we get past the bye, then he'll see his surgeon again. I think he may see him tomorrow.
"We're not sure (when he'll be available). Once again, with an injury such as that, it depends on healing.
"He's just got to work through his progressions. And once we get past post-bye, we can make a firmer adjustment about when he's going to make his way back."
Gold Coast has listed Rowell as "medium-term" in the estimated return column on the club's injury list.
In more positive news, key defender Charlie Ballard is poised for an AFL return in Round 4.
Hardwick said that Ballard, who suffered an ACL injury last year, is likely to get another run in the VFL this weekend against Werribee, and then enjoy a week off before returning to the AFL.
The Suns will look to continue their unbeaten streak against Richmond on Saturday at the MCG.
The clash at the home of football will be the first of two games at the hallowed turf, with the Suns returning to the MCG against Melbourne in Round 4.
