Gold Coast AFL coach Rodney Eade is banking on Gary Ablett passing a fitness test to boost the Suns' chances of beating West Coast on Saturday at home.
Ablett faces a final test on Friday morning on his injured shoulder and Eade says a fit Ablett will bring much-needed stability to his inconsistent team.
"Gary and Michael Barlow are very competitive in the midfield, but it's not only competitiveness they bring but their ability to challenge other players and change the direction of the team in different situations," Eade said.
It's a timely return for the 16th-placed Suns who've struggled this season for consistency.
After upset wins over Hawthorn and Geelong, they've been battered by Port Adelaide and Melbourne.
The Suns have three wins and six losses in 2017 but are only two victories outside the top eight.
Despite Gold Coast's position in a logjammed section of the ladder, Eade isn't thinking of playing in September yet.
"Mathematically, it's a very even season as everyone says, we just need to get on a bit of a roll and anyone can win any particular game," Eade said.
"We're not really considering it. We're worrying about this week then we'll be worrying about next week and that's what we've got to do.
"Once we get a bit of consistency, the results will come."
Eade is hoping for a home-ground advantage, after playing in Alice Springs and Shanghai, with the Eagles struggling to win away from Perth.
West Coast will be without key forward Josh Kennedy who's likely to miss three games with a calf injury.
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