GOLD Coast has been dealt another injury blow ahead of the clash with the Western Bulldogs in Cairns, with key defender Rory Thompson a late withdrawal with a hamstring injury.

With stars Gary Ablett and Steven May picking up injuries in last week's loss to Collingwood, Thompson's absence is another hole coach Rodney Eade needs to fill in his injury-ravaged side.

Second-year midfielder Darcy MacPherson comes into the side as Thompson's replacement.

MacPherson, whose father Steve played 188 games for Footscray between 1985 and 1992, was eligible to go to the Bulldogs as a father-son selection, but the club passed on him.

The 19-year-old has played six games for the Suns after being selected with pick 21 in the 2016 NAB AFL Rookie Draft.

The Bulldogs will go into the game unchanged, with premiership forward Tory Dickson the travelling emergency.