GEELONG has been forced into a late change for Thursday night's match against Gold Coast with defender Sam De Koning ruled out with hamstring tightness.

Zach Tuohy has replaced him in the Cats' 22.

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Youngster Jhye Clark has been named the Cats' sub, while Alex Davies is in the role for the Suns.

De Koning's absence adds to a long list of changes for Chris Scott's team, already having rested Tom Hawkins, Mitch Duncan and Rhys Stanley to face the Suns.

Jeremy Cameron is also missing through concussion.

Gold Coast has also heavily rotated its team, leaving out co-captain Jarrod Witts, Nick Holman and first-year players Jed Walter and Jake Rogers.

The Suns (5-4) have won their past five games at the venue after easily accounting for North Melbourne there last week.

But they face a tougher challenge this week against a Cats outfit looking to bounce back from two consecutive narrow losses.

After winning its first seven games, Geelong (7-2) has fallen back to the pack of top-four contenders after a rare loss on home soil to Yartapuulti last week followed their first defeat of the season to Narrm in round eight.

Gold Coast v Geelong at TIO Stadium, 7pm ACST

LATE CHANGES
Geelong: Sam De Koning (hamstring tightness) replaced in selected side by Zach Tuohy

SUBSTITUTES
Gold Coast: Alex Davies
Geelong: Jhye Clark

The Cats were blown away early against the Power and conceded 50 points in the opening term – their most in a first quarter at GMHBA Stadium since 1983 – and will be wary of making a similar start in what are often greasy conditions in Darwin.

Coming off a five-day break, the Suns made four changes, resting Rogers, Walter, Witts and Nick Holman, with Brayden Fiorini, Ned Moyle, David Swallow and Sam Day coming in.

The Cats also made four changes, with Shannon Neale, Toby Conway, Jack Bowes and Tanner Bruhn coming into their side.