GOLD Coast has a real dilemma on its hands this week – pick Campbell Brown after serving a six-match suspension or let him cool his heels for another week.
Coach Guy McKenna said he was still wrestling with the decision four days out from playing Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday.
Brown was suspended in the final round of last season for a high bump on Adelaide's Aiden Riley and is now available for selection.
However, McKenna is wary of bringing him straight in, short of match fitness, which may be exposed late in the game.
Adding to the problem is the fact Gold Coast's reserves have a bye this weekend, so easing him back through the NEAFL is not an option.
"We know he can compete, there's no issue with that … can he sustain that for four quarters? That's the big coaching dilemma we've got this week," McKenna said.
"Would we be better off, as we have for the last six weeks, just punishing him after training?
"He says he's in the best physical shape of his life, and that's him probably telling me he wants to play this week in the seniors, but he does look good and he does look sharp."
Gold Coast were badly exposed by Fremantle's pressure in last Saturday's 45-point loss at Metricon Stadium, and it's an area Brown is renowned for helping in.
"You talk about pressure and what we learnt out of Fremantle, and he clearly brings that," McKenna said.
"That's his great ticket into the side. We've just got to weigh up whether our side can absorb him for four quarters."
Two weeks ago against GWS, Gold Coast re-introduced Trent McKenzie, Tom Lynch and Danny Stanley for their first matches of the season, and McKenna is concerned there may be too many playing with not enough match fitness.
Either way, he said the Demons would be no pushover, after watching them play live twice in the past three weeks.
"They're very hard around the football, they've got some big strong-bodied boys. There'll be no chance of us taking them lightly," he said.
"It's a great opportunity for us. We had some messages going into last week's game about earning respect, because of the result we may not have done that, but the MCG demands it."
Ruckman Charlie Dixon (ankle) is expected to play, while versatile Steven May is in doubt with a back-related hamstring injury.
Michael Whiting covers Gold Coast news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting
