GOLD Coast full-back Rory Thompson will switch ends against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday, moving forward to cover the loss of the injured Charlie Dixon.
Dixon was ruled out of the QClash on Thursday with an adductor injury, leaving the Suns with just Sam Day and Tom Lynch as forward marking options.
However, at their final training session at Metricon Stadium on Friday, Thompson trained exclusively as a forward, while Dixon's replacement Matthew Warnock slotted into the backline.
Dixon is crucial to the Suns' set up, as he plays the dual role of key forward, and back-up ruck to Tom Nicholls.
Thompson is well qualified to fill his boots though, having been drafted to the club as a forward/ruck from his junior days, before converting to the backline.
The 200cm red-haired defender has kicked seven goals in his 35-game AFL career.
Speaking prior to training, McKenna said Dixon's loss was big, but one that could be covered.
"[They're] big shoes to fill," McKenna said.
"He [Dixon] was getting assessed and scanned through the week. You also have Plan B … it's a big loss, but from a planning point of view, not a huge distraction."
McKenna said he would be loath to shuffle his backline too much, particularly swingman Steven May who had dominated against Richmond's Ty Vickery and Fremantle's Matthew Pavlich in the opening fortnight.
Warnock, May and Clay Cameron will hold the fort without Thompson and will need to match up on Jonathan Brown, Michael Close and the Lions' resting ruckman – either Matthew Leuenberger or Trent West.
McKenna hosed down any extra significance of playing the Lions, saying the match was worth four premiership points like any other.
"I've had enough of losing to a lot of sides we haven't beaten yet, there's too many of them," he said.
"There's a lot of Brisbane Lions supporters here and so there should be, they did start here.
"We want to erode that fabric and we get a chance to do so. We have to make a statement and I think the boys are pretty keen to do that."
