GOLD Coast defender Sam Collins will miss the rest of the season after recovering slower than expected from a hip injury.

Collins suffered a stress reaction in the hip following the round nine match against Port Adelaide and was put on crutches to take the load off the area.

But after a check-up at the six-week mark, the 25-year-old had not improved as hoped.

Sam Collins and Jarrod Harbrow celebrate a win over Fremantle in round two. Picture: AFL Photos

"We would have liked the swelling in the femur to have responded a bit better than what it has done," Gold Coast's head physiotherapist Lindsay Bull told the club's website.

"Sam will need a further period of de-loading before then we start to re-load that bone moving forwards.

"Unfortunately, that period of time will look like that rules him out for the rest of the year."

After a season in the VFL, the former Docker had resurrected his career with a terrific start to 2019 as the key Suns defender.

With Rory Thompson rupturing his ACL on the eve of the season, it leaves the Suns very thin for full-backs for the rest of the year.

Rugged midfielder Nick Holman is also out indefinitely after suffering a stress reaction in his back.