PEARCE Hanley's season has taken another hit, with the Gold Coast midfielder not expected to return before round 10.

Hanley suffered a bruised heel in a NEAFL match on April 16, and Suns coach Rodney Eade confirmed on Thursday there had been little improvement.

"They're a bugger of an injury," Eade said.

"We thought at the start that it could be three or four weeks."

Eade said Hanley could be available in round eight, but with the NEAFL team playing in Darwin that weekend, he likely wouldn't be risked.

The senior team has a bye the following week.

"We'll take the longer term view to give him some training before he can play," Eade said.

"So it'll probably be after the bye."

It continues a frustrating first year at Gold Coast for the 28-year-old.

Hanley had a strong pre-season and played in the opening round against former club Brisbane Lions.

He then returned to Ireland to be with his terminally ill younger brother Tommy, who later died of cancer.

Hanley suffered the heel injury in his first game back.

On a brighter note for the Suns, Eade said co-captain Steven May was ahead of schedule in recovering from his hamstring injury and would almost certainly be available to play Geelong in round seven.

May trained at full pace on Thursday, just 12 days after sustaining the injury.

"The scan came back not as bad as we thought it would be," Eade said.

"He'll train all next week with a view he'll play."

Rory Thompson (quad) is less of a chance to play the Cats, and if he doesn't get up, would then be unlikely to play the following week when the Suns travel to China to play Port Adelaide.