GOLD Coast coach Stuart Dew has challenged midfielder Jarryd Lyons to force his way back into the senior team by dominating at NEAFL level.

Lyons was dropped ahead of last weekend's loss to Geelong and, despite a number of injuries to the Suns, has again been left out of Saturday's team to play Greater Western Sydney.

Lyons had 23 disposals, including 10 clearances, against Southport, but Dew said he wanted to see more.

"His work-rate was good last week and that's what we want to see," Dew said on Friday morning.

"We'd love him to dominate at NEAFL level.

"He was pretty heavily checked last week and he worked his way through that.

"The talk with Jarryd is we want to see him get back to really good form."

Will Brodie came in against the Cats last week, and Dew said he wanted to give the second-year midfielder another opportunity.

With Aaron Hall (pectoral) set for an extended stint on the sidelines, Gold Coast has lost a significant amount of its pace, but Dew said that did not mean contested ball winners Brodie and Lyons could not fit into the same 22.

Another Suns player to miss out on selection was tall forward Peter Wright, who has played three matches at the lower level after missing the first part of 2018 with a calf injury.

Dew said he was unlikely to play three talls in his forward line, and Wright would have to force his way in.

The 21-year-old spent some time in the ruck against Southport, and could be set for more time there.

"He's played the majority of his football forward, but even last week I thought his best stuff was in the ruck.

"He's only young so we don't want to pigeonhole him in one position.

"Right now in the NEAFL I think it's good to play ruck to build his fitness back up, he has missed a chunk of the year.

"Ultimately if he's marking and kicking goals he's a forward and if he's not doing that, we can use him in the ruck."

Jack Leslie and Brad Scheer are the only two changes to the Suns' team, in for injured duo Hall and co-captain Steven May (ankle).