Gold Coast superstar Touk Miller will be available for the Suns' season opener against Sydney after missing his club's pair of pre-season matches.
A hamstring issue sidelined Miller for the Suns' recent hitouts against Essendon and GWS but remained likely to line up against the Swans for next week's Round 1 clash at home with the Swans.
Recently confirmed to extend his run as co-captain, Miller told media on Monday that he would've been in the mix to play against the Giants over the weekend had the game been played during the regular season.
"I trained on Saturday while the boys were playing and felt fantastic," Miller said.
"I've got two normal weeks at it now and I'm ready for Round 1.
"If it was in-season I would have played the weekend just gone."
Miller isn't alone in having manned the Suns' casualty ward in recent weeks, withย Brandon Ellisย (calf),ย Wil Powellย (hamstring) andย Lachie Weller (knee) all sidelined ahead of Round 1.
The Suns will also be without Connor Budarick for the first half of the home and away season as the defender continues to recover from an ACL injury.
Gold Coast will host Sydney at Metricon Stadium on Saturday, March 18.
Meanwhile, Geelong may also get a significant boost for Round 1, with star forward Tom Hawkins revealing his playing prospects for the Cats' season opener is very much "alive".
Hawkins has been kept to the sidelines for a majority of the pre-season after undergoing foot surgery last year, with the veteran sharpshooter initially deemed in doubt to miss Geelong's Round 1 bout with Collingwood.
The 34-year-old's recovery has seen his chances for a Round 1 showing sway in recent weeks, but his current return timeline has him on course to face the Magpies.
โThe plan at this stage is that still very much at this stage Round 1 is alive,โ Hawkins told AFL 360 on Monday night.
โThat's shifted a few times throughout my rehabilitation period. I thought it'd be maybe Round 3 or 4, but I've progressed really well.โ
Should Hawkins manage to play all 23 home and away matches this season, the three-time premiership Cat will bring up the 350-game milestone in the final round of the season.
Likely to be rested throughout the year however, Hawkins may manage to hit the milestone in September, should Geelong return to the finals frame.
Geelong's Round 1 clash with Collingwood will take place at the MCG on Friday, March 17.
