GOLD Coast's defensive cupboard could be a little thin for next week's QClash against the Brisbane Lions, with Rory Thompson in doubt and Trent McKenzie certain to miss with injury.

The duo were casualties of Saturday night's 54-point win over Carlton, and coach Rodney Eade said it would take a few days to obtain the full extent of their problems.

McKenzie has a compound fracture of his nose after a first-quarter marking collision with teammate Steven May and Carlton's Levi Casboult.

He took no further part in the match and was the first Sun to leave the dressingroom after the victory.

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Thompson was assisted off the field in the third term with an ankle problem and did not return.

Eade said McKenzie would miss "a few weeks" and the club would have a clearer diagnosis after speaking with surgeons.

He was more hopeful on Thompson.

"Rory got an ankle sprain, and it's around the joint, which is not a bad sign," Eade said.

"We'll have to wait and see on that. It hasn't swollen a lot, so hopefully he's OK.

"Brisbane generally go smaller, so Rory's not as big a deal per se."

Eade said Clay Cameron would revert from his current forward line role to the backline against the Lions after playing what Eade described as his best game in Suns colours.

Gold Coast made it three successive wins to start the season against Carlton, and while Eade said he was happy, he was far from content after a sloppy first half.

He said the Suns were lax and hesitant with the ball.

WATCH Rodney Eade's full media conference

"I think you've got to win different ways," he said.

"You're not going to win the same way every week, teams aren't going to allow you to do that.

"It was slippery as well, it was humid … so to win a different way was pleasing.

"I'm happy but I'm not totally contented.

"There's so much room for improvement, so much room for growth.

"Not only the way we play, but following instructions as we're going up a level and bringing that effort and intensity.

"We've got to learn that no matter who we play, whether we play the team who's 18th or we're playing the team who's first.

"We were up last week (against Fremantle) for the whole fight, I didn't think we were early tonight."