Gold Coast ruckman Tom Nicholls has undergone surgery on his injured left knee.
The 22-year-old went under the knife on Saturday after scans on his knee in Melbourne revealed the extent of damage to his posterior cruciate ligament.
Nicholls suffered the injury in the third quarter of the Suns' 43-point AFL win over North Melbourne.
Suns football manager Marcus Ashcroft said Nicholls' recovery period would be determined by how he responds to the surgery.
"He will remain in Melbourne with his family for the next couple of days, before returning to the club to commence his rehabilitation program," Ashcroft said.
Nicholls' unavailability could force coach Guy McKenna to rush Zac Smith back from his knee injury for Sunday's away match against St Kilda.
Smith, who has been sidelined for just under a year after undergoing a knee reconstruction, has declared he's ready to return.
The 205cm giant is viewed as one of the best ruck prospects at the Suns and his return couldn't be more timely with Nicholls and Daniel Gorringe (Achilles) sidelined.
Suns' coach Guy McKenna says he's yet to decide whether to rush Smith straight into the team.
"We've got some other tall options," McKenna told the Suns' website.
"Charlie Dixon is back in the team and Rory Thompson and Sam Day have played the position at times throughout the year."
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