GOLD Coast has copped another big injury blow, with full-back Sam Collins set to spend six weeks on the sidelines.

Collins has been a revelation this season, ranked third in the competition for intercept marks and helping Gold Coast improve from 18th last year for points conceded, to 10th after nine rounds this year.

He played against Port Adelaide on Sunday but an MRI early in the week has revealed a stress reaction in his femur.

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Gold Coast physiotherapist Lindsay Bull said Collins should resume shortly after the Suns' round 14 bye.

The 24-year-old was given a lifeline by the Suns following a standout season in the VFL for Werribee in 2018 after he was delisted by Fremantle the previous year.

Collins had a strong pre-season and was locked into the Suns' best 22 when regular full-back Rory Thompson suffered an ACL injury on the eve of the season.

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Vice-captain Touk Miller is no certainty to return to play league leaders Geelong at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night, still struggling with a heel injury that kept him from playing against Port.

"He's definitely improved for the weekend off, but at this stage he's still a week-by-week proposition," Bull said.

Pearce Hanley is also still a couple of weeks away from returning after undergoing surgery last week to drain fluid from a badly corked quad he suffered in round eight against Melbourne.