Gary Ablett will miss Gold Coast's AFL clash against Melbourne in Alice Springs after failing to recover from back-to-back blows to his shoulder.
Ablett, who required a shoulder reconstruction in 2014, hurt his right shoulder against Geelong, then re-injured it during the historic match against Port Adelaide a fortnight ago in Shanghai.
The two-time Brownlow medallist also missed the past seven games of the 2016 season with a shoulder injury, but the Suns are confident he'll miss just Saturday's match.
"Unfortunately for Gary he got a shoulder knock in our Geelong game a few weeks ago," Gold Coast football boss Marcus Ashcroft said.
"He did everything he could of to get himself right to play against Port Adelaide in China, unfortunately he suffered another knock in the same area in that game.
"We thought with the two-week rest before this weekend's match against Melbourne he'd be OK.
"Unfortunately, he did a fitness test, didn't feel quite right and on the advice of our medical team it was decided that Gary not play this weekend and be available for next weekend's match."
Jack Bowes (ill) and Keegan Brooksby (dropped) are also out, while Pearce Hanley, David Swallow and Will Brodie, who will debut, come into the side.
