PEARCE Hanley will spend up to six weeks on the sidelines after dislocating his right shoulder in Sunday's JLT Community Series win over Brisbane.
Hanley slid to touch a ball on the goal-line and popped the shoulder out.
He had scans on Monday and although he doesn't require surgery, the news is not good.
"The advice from the surgeons and our medical staff is a fairly conservative approach," Gold Coast football manager Jon Haines said.
"We expect the recovery period will take 4-6 weeks and at that time Pearce will be ready to play."
It's a big setback for new coach Stuart Dew, who also lost small forward Sean Lemmens to a hamstring injury the previous week against Geelong.
Lemmens is unlikely to be available for the opening round.
Hanley's injury continues a wretched run for the Irishman since he was traded from the Brisbane Lions at the end of 2016.
After losing his younger brother to cancer early last season, Hanley suffered a foot injury that wiped out the first half of his year before breaking his hand in the International Rules Series in November.
Based on the Suns' timeline, he will definitely miss the opening two rounds against North Melbourne and Carlton, and possibly back-to-back matches in Perth against Fremantle and West Coast.
Haines confirmed Jack Martin's early exit against the Lions was just precautionary with some hamstring tightness.
