GOLD Coast captain Gary Ablett has sustained a knee injury in Saturday night's match against the Sydney Swans and has been substituted out of the game.

Ablett injured his medial ligament in his right knee mid-way through the opening quarter after landing awkwardly during a marking contest.

He hobbled off immediately and went down to the Suns' dressing rooms for treatment.

The Brownlow medallist returned to the field early in the second quarter with the right knee heavily strapped in ice. The ice-pack was removed and he went straight to the forward line.

But after playing for another five minutes he limped off again and was replaced by substitute Luke Russell.

Ablett's injury follows the late withdrawal of Swan Jude Bolton just prior to the start of play.

Bolton hurt his knee in the Swans' warm-up and was replaced in the team by Luke Parker.

Bolton joined fellow midfielder Craig Bird as a late withdrawal.

The Suns had two late omissions of their own with Josh Fraser failing to recover from a foot injury sustained against Fremantle last week and Matt Shaw missing through soreness.

Charlie Dixon - who kicked 11 goals in the Suns' reserves team last week - came in, along with midfielder Hayden Jolly.