THE CAVALRY is on the way back for Gold Coast, with up to seven first choice starting players a chance to return from injury to play the Sydney Swans on Saturday.

The Suns have gone through an unprecedented run of bad luck, with 18 players on their injury list and just three listed players – all rookies – available for their NEAFL team at the weekend.

But following Sunday's 77-point loss against West Coast, their seventh straight defeat, the troops are returning.

Defenders Kade Kolodjashnij (abdominal) and Sam Day (hip), midfielders Touk Miller (ankle) and Matt Rosa (hamstring) along with small forward Callum Ah Chee (concussion) will go straight back in.

Like Rosa, Alex Sexton (arm) will undergo a fitness test, but should play, while Trent McKenzie (ankle) is also likely to be in the mix.

The injury list: Your club's sidelined players

General manager of football operations Marcus Ashcroft said it wasn't the end of the good news for the Suns, who have been decimated the past five weeks.

"The following week you've got guys like (Dan) Currie (finger), (Mitch) Hallahan (foot), (Jarrad) Grant (hamstring) and (Adam) Saad (hamstring) all earmarked, subject to tests," he told AFL.com.au.

"After Richmond (round 12) you've got the bye, so you'd think by Hawthorn (round 14) we might get a bit of continuity."

Key defender Rory Thompson will return through the NEAFL this weekend after missing seven weeks with an ankle injury and would be expected to return to the seniors not long after.

After an improved effort against the Eagles, in which they narrowly lost disposals (-12) and contested ball (-15), and won the tackle count by 20, coach Rodney Eade said he hadn't lost hope on the season, despite their 3-7 record.

"I think we can certainly help shape the eight and that might mean that we might be able to push for it,” he said.

"We look forward to the challenge of the teams we play and get as many wins as we can and that's what we want to be able to do."