STUART Dew says he's unsure of the reception Tom Lynch will get when he returns to Metricon Stadium on Saturday.

But Gold Coast's coach is sure of one thing – the Suns have more to worry about than their former captain.

After eight years with Gold Coast, Lynch departed for Richmond via free agency last off-season.

Stuart Dew sitting between his former co-captains at last year's team photo shoot. Pic: AFL Photos

It didn't sit well with everyone at Carrara at the time, with vice-captain Touk Miller telling AFL.com.au earlier this week that Lynch's return would add some "spice".

Dew said it was "hard to predict", though.

"Sometimes it might be a certain incident in the game that kicks it off, or maybe not," he said.

"But I think our guys are aware there are far bigger challenges than just one player up one end.

"The midfield battle is going to be important and that will determine Lynchie's impact on the game."

Lynch has kicked 31 goals this season to sit fifth in the Coleman Medal race but hasn't quite dominated games following off-season knee surgery.

Gold Coast are a little under-sized in defence, with Jack Hombsch and teenagers Charlie Ballard and Jack Lukosius holding down the key posts against Sydney last week.

"He (Lynch) is hitting the scoreboard," Dew said.

"I think everybody sees the possession rate is not high but his impact on the game has been high and the way they play they don't necessarily need him kicking five or six and he does bring the others into the game."

Gold Coast has lost 10 straight matches but there will be no rush to bring boom No.3 draft pick Izak Rankine into the senior team after playing his first match at NEAFL level last week.

The Suns won't rush young gun Izak Rankine back into the team. Pic: AFL Photos.

Rankine played almost 80 minutes in the Suns' victory over Sydney, completing a successful comeback after successive hamstring injuries.

"We will be conservative with him," Dew said.

"He missed 15 or 16 weeks and played on the weekend and he's got a bit of general soreness around that as well.

"We will go really cautious with him and not rush him at all.

"We would all love to see him play in the seniors, but his physical gains and his condition is our main priority because he is a long-term player, so we are certainly not going to rush him."