GOLD Coast ruckman Jarrod Witts will wear protection on his hand against the Western Bulldogs on Thursday night to ensure he doesn't split the webbing for a third time in less than 12 months. 

The 24-year-old visited a hand therapist during the week to be fitted with the protective gear after being forced to have the hand operated on soon after he injured it during the first pre-season game against the Brisbane Lions.

It was the second time the former Magpie had split the webbing in the same spot within a year, with Suns football manager Marcus Ashcroft telling AFL.com.au the club is keen to ensure it doesn't become a recurring problem for Witts.

"He went into hospital so we made sure it was cleaned out and we had no risk of infection," Ashcroft said.

Witts missed five weeks last season when his hand became infected after splitting the webbing while playing for Collingwood in round one against the Sydney Swans.

Last month, he missed the Suns' second game in the JLT Community Series against Essendon.

But he has recovered quickly enough to return against the Western Bulldogs to make a further claim on the number one ruck spot.

He has been a good performer in the pre-season since arriving from Collingwood in exchange for picks 44 and 62 in the last year's draft.

Witts played 40 games for the Magpies after making his debut in 2013 but has played just 13 in the past two seasons.

He will go head-to-head with the Bulldogs' first draft selection from last year Tim English and premiership star Tom Boyd at Metricon Stadium in the final hit-out before round one.

The Bulldogs are still trying to work out its best ruck combination for round one with Jordan Roughead and Tom Campbell set to miss through injury.