WITH A cloud hanging over his future, Gold Coast midfielder Jesse Lonergan might have found another way to keep his career ticking.

After playing just two games this season, the 23-year-old Tasmanian was inserted against Sydney last weekend and ended up playing an integral role in the Suns' upset victory.

With Swans skipper Josh Kennedy running riot in the first quarter to pilot his team to a 29-point quarter-time advantage, Lonergan was assigned a run-with role on the All Australian midfielder.

At first he just manned Kennedy at stoppages, and after half-time it was a full tagging job.

Kennedy still had 33 disposals to be one of Sydney's best, but his influence was curbed and the Suns stormed to victory.

"He's such a good player and so strong at the contest, you can only limit him, you can't stop him," Lonergan told AFL.com.au.

"I just had to get into him, put a body on him and stop his influence as much as I could.

"He's such a big-time player, we just wanted to shut him down, match him in tight and then use our legs on the outside."

Lonergan said he learnt so much from playing on one of the competition's best inside midfielders.

"His work rate is second to none," he said.

"He's never not moving, that's why he's such a good player and so consistent over such a long time."

Lonergan is out of contract at season's end and after 58 games in six seasons with the Suns, is in limbo.

Although Carlton bull Patrick Cripps might be another run-with candidate for Saturday night's match against the Blues, Lonergan gave away no clues of likely matchups and said he was just happy to be in the senior team.

"Hopefully beating a side like Sydney is a fire-starter for us," he said.

"You can't underestimate any side though. We've got to stick to basics and start from scratch again."