The Gold Coast Suns have been forced into a late team change ahead of its clash with Carlton this Saturday, announcing key forward Mabior Chol has come into the side at the expense of fellow tall Ben King.

King, initially an inclusion to interim coach Steven King's selected side for this weekend's bout, will miss through knee soreness.

The Suns are understood to not be taking any chances with King, who ruptured his right ACL at the beginning of last season and missed the entire 2022 campaign.

Chol, who crossed over to the Sunshine Coast from Punt Road at the end of the 2021 season, will play just his seventh AFL game of the year against the Blues.

Jy Farrar, James Tsitas, Darcy Macpherson and Sam Day were named the club's emergencies, with the Suns sticking with that contingency quartet after Friday's news.

At team selection on Thursday night, the Suns omitted the aforementioned foursome, with one set to start as the side's tactical substitute on Saturday.

Gold Coast included forward Alex Sexton, midfielder Brayden Fiorini, running defender Connor Budarick, and debutant Lloyd Johnston to combat Carlton.ย 

The Blues, meanwhile, will welcome a massive inclusion to their Saturday side; star forward Harry McKay, who returns from injury on the eve of September action.

The Suns' clash with the Blues is fixtured for 2:10 PM (AEST) this Saturday at Heritage Bank Stadium.