GOLD Coast has been dealt a blow ahead of its clash against Greater Western Sydney with key defender Sam Collins a late withdrawal.

Collins took a heavy hit to his ribs last week and has been ruled out of the meeting with the Giants on Sunday.

GIANTS v SUNS Follow it LIVE

Sam Clohesy comes into the Suns' side to replace the defender.

The Giants (9-11) reignited their finals hopes with a gritty win over Port Adelaide last week but must now put a string of victories together in order to snatch a wildcard place.

The Giants have shown they can compete with – and beat – the best including Fremantle, Geelong, Brisbane and Melbourne but still need to prove they can avoid slipping up in danger games like this clash with the out-of-sorts Suns.

Greater Western Sydney v Gold Coast at Manuka Oval, 1.10pm AEST
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Gold Coast: Sam Collins replaced in selected side by Sam Clohesy

Gold Coast (7-13) slumped to a 10th straight defeat – the longest losing streak in coach Damien Hardwick's career – with a narrow loss to Melbourne in another sign the side has forgotten how to win.

The Suns have lost four of those 10 matches by single figures and are running out of time to turn around their horror form this year with the Giants, Lions and Saints all to come away from home.

The Giants have received a huge boost with skipper Toby Greene returning in place of youngster Jack Ough, while the Suns have recalled Zeke Uwland, Lachie Gulbin and Jy Farrar for Academy products Jai Murray, Dylan Patterson and Beau Addinsall, who have all been rested.

West Coast has a chance to make amends for last week's disappointing loss to Richmond when it hosts Collingwood at Optus Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Eagles (4-16) were left to rue wayward kicking for goal after they failed to make the most of their against the Tigers and, for the 19th time in 20 matches this season, failed to reach 100 points.

EAGLES v MAGPIES Follow it LIVE

West Coast is running out of chances to snap what is now an eight-match losing streak with the Magpies, Giants and Hawks to come on the run home.

Collingwood (11-1-8) lost some of the momentum it had gained during a six-match winning streak as injuries struck and it was outclassed by Geelong in a defeat that left it off the pace of the teams chasing a top-six spot.

The Pies only need one more victory to lock in a finals spot, although they must win all their remaining matches against the Eagles, Hawks and Lions to climb above the wildcard places.

Both sides have made multiple changes, the Eagles adding co-captain Liam Baker as well as youngsters Josh Lindsay and Tom Gross, while omitting Sandy Brock, Harvey Johnston and Ryan Maric. 

The Pies have lost five big guns to injury - Jeremy Howe, Harry Perryman, Pat Lipinski, Scott Pendlebury and Jordan De Goey all out. Into the side come debutant Noah Howes as well as Sam Swadling, Lachie Sullivan, Will Hayes and Roan Steele.

St Kilda and Carlton close out a huge round 22 on Sunday night at Marvel Stadium in a clash set to have huge ramifications for the wildcard spots.

The Saints (9-11) gave Sydney a huge scare before again being left wanting against a top-half side when the game was up for grabs in the final term.

SAINTS v BLUES Follow it LIVE

St Kilda has dropped out of the wildcard places and is still yet to beat a side currently sitting in the top 10 in 10 attempts this season.

However, the Saints' finals destiny is still in their own hands and they can leapfrog the Blues with a win this week.

Carlton (10-10) took command of its finals fate as it piled on the club's highest score since 2012 and had 16 individual goalkickers in a rousing victory over an in-form Brisbane.

The Blues are playing with a newfound freedom and have won nine of 11 matches under interim coach Josh Fraser, but with a relatively poor percentage, need to win at least two more games to be confident of a wildcard place.

Carlton goes into the clash unchanged, while the Saints have named Cooper Sharman to replace Tobie Travaglia.