Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade says the club will not risk taking players to China who have asthma or respiratory problems given the high pollution levels likely to be in the air.
Northern China, including Shangahi, where the match will be played, is currently experiencing extremely high and unhealthy levels of pollution due to a sandstorm sweeping through the area.
“That smog… hopefully there’s no respiratory problems,” Eade said on Triple M on Sunday.
“We won’t take any players who have got asthma or have got respiratory problems anyway.
“So that’ll have to all be decided on Tuesday, so there may be some changes (from this week's game).”
Eade was also heavily critical of the logistics of getting to the game, with the Suns set to be in transit for almost 24 hours.
“I have to do the political line don’t I, that no, we’re looking forward to it,” Eade said.
“It’s great for the game we’re able to go and play for points away and that sort of thing, just you can’t get a direct flight there.
“By the time we leave here, catch a bus to Brisbane and be there a couple of hours early, it’ll be about 20 hours, 21 hours by the time we get there.
“Not many players are in business and exit rows and that sort of thing.
“That’s probably more my concern, the preparation of the players, and then coming back as well even though we’ve got the bye next week.”
While backing up from playing in China will no doubt be difficult for both camps, both sides have been given a bye by the AFL in round nine.
