Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett remains up to a month away from returning to the AFL.
Suns coach Rodney Eade said Ablett is making progress as he recovers from the ongoing shoulder problems that have sidelined him since round two.
"His pain is all gone and his range of movement is nearly there, so I would think it would be a minimum of two, it could be up to four weeks," Eade told Fox Footy's On The Couch program.
"It's really up to Gary.
"It's a big corner at the moment, but hopefully he can turn that corner pretty quickly."
Eade also strongly backed Ablett as captain again in the wake of last week's controversy, where four players were banned for breaking a club-imposed booze ban.
Ablett has had a low public profile since his shoulder problem forced him out of the side and that has led to speculation about whether he should stay Suns skipper.
"I don't see any reason for Gary to step aside as captain or not to be captain of the footy club," Eade said.
"Because he's succumbed to the shoulder again ... he hasn't been visible and people are questioning that.
"But internally, he's been very strong."
Acting captain Michael Rischitelli was the public face of the player-driven suspensions last week that forced Danny Stanley, Harley Bennell, Brandon Matera and Trent McKenzie out of the side for last weekend.
But Eade said Ablett had grown as a leader since the club joined the AFL four years ago.
"Gary, I don't think is going to baulk at any hard decision that needs to be made.
"His leadership is growing all the time and people internally have said where he is now, compared to when he started as a leader of the club is really, exponentially, that much higher."
Eade praised the suspended players for how they had handled the punishment.
In response to speculation about the futures of Bennell and Matera, Eade said they are required players.
"I have spoken to them," he said.
"Harley and Brandon are part of the future as far as I am concerned, as far as we're concerned.
"They're talented young lads ... we don't want to trade them."
Eade also admitted the culture at the Suns needs work.
He also has seen signs of progress over the last month.
While Gold Coast are equal-bottom with only one win from their first six games, Eade is not writing off the season.
"It's not a rebuild - it's a build," he said.
"We're not looking to next year, we're not looking to trading - we're looking totally (at) the season in hand.
"That starts this week."
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