THERE'S mixed injury news for Gold Coast, with skipper Steven May in doubt to play Essendon on Saturday night, while Pearce Hanley and Brayden Fiorini will return from long-term layoffs in the NEAFL. 

May played out Sunday's loss to North Melbourne despite injuring his hip in the second quarter but must get through Gold Coast's main training on Wednesday night to prove his fitness. 

In better news for the injury-ravaged club, Hanley (shoulder), Fiorini (leg) and Matt Rosa (hamstring) will play Greater Western Sydney at Spotless Stadium in Saturday afternoon NEAFL action.

Suns coach Stuart Dew said May was a "bit sore" and would be tested. 

"It was a Sunday game and today's only Wednesday, generally you don't try and start moving them until today," Dew said. 

"We're a little bit in the dark on that and we'll see how he goes today." 

Hanley had shoulder surgery following round three, while Fiorini has been missing since round six.

The duo brings something the Suns lack – good ball users – and are a welcome sight for Dew.

The coach said they would not be rushed back to senior level. 

"They'll need a bit more than one NEAFL game and then form comes into it," Dew said. 

"The pleasing thing will be getting them back into match play and see how they perform. We're glad to have their magnets on the right side again."

Sam Day will go in for shoulder surgery, ending his season prematurely. 

Dew said he expected Essendon's best performance on Saturday night and urged the Suns to improve their defensive transition after being opened up by the Kangaroos on the counter-attack at the weekend. 

Despite conceding his team faded in and out of games, Dew said lack of fitness was not an issue. 

"I actually think our game fitness at the moment has been good, we've run games out, it's been our inconsistency within quarters," he said. 

"Our first quarter was really lacklustre on the weekend. I thought the lads responded after quarter-time, but again, we don't want to come in at quarter-time and be down like that."