Gold Coast midfielder Karmichael Hunt is expected to return from injury for the Suns’ round 14 AFL clash with Adelaide.
Hunt has been missing from the senior line-up since the round six loss to Fremantle with a hamstring injury.
But the former rugby league star played for the Suns reserves last week and coach Guy McKenna expects him to be fit enough to play the Crows after this weekend’s bye.
“I’d think he’s a big chance to play,” McKenna told reporters.
“We’re going to miss Michael Rischitelli for a few weeks.
“We can’t replace him as far as experience goes, but certainly that hardness around the ball, Karmichael, Greg Broughton and Jared Brennan provide that.
“There’s three ready-made replacements there.”
Rischitelli is still waiting for swelling to go down on his injured right arm after he damaged ligaments in his elbow in last weekend’s loss to the Bombers.
The former Brisbane Lion could require surgery and may face up to four weeks on the sidelines.
It’s hardly the news Rischitelli would be hoping for with his future at the Suns still undecided.
McKenna said he was confident the 27-year-old midfielder still has a role to play with the team.
“He’s had an interrupted season and was just starting to get his body right and was starting to produce the footy we know he can,” McKenna said.
“He kept (Brent) Stanton to 10 possessions in a half, that says enough about what we expect and how he can deliver.
“We understand what he provides our football club. If that’s the last game we go off, that’s a good one.
“He did everything we asked of him.”