RODNEY Eade says Gold Coast will have to play "ugly" to stay competitive with the Sydney Swans on Saturday after losing another two players on match eve.

Harley Bennell (calf) and Matt Shaw (illness) were ruled out on Friday morning, adding to an already lengthy list of unavailable players.

With the inclusions of Greg Broughton and Clay Cameron, the Suns have just four senior-listed players – Zac Smith, Seb Tape, Nick Malceski and Dan Gorringe – not in their senior 22 that are available.

Malceski will play a second match in reserves after overcoming a knee injury.

Gold Coast coach Eade said not only had the Suns' talent been gutted, their best running midfielders were out and this would impact their gameplan.

"We just can't afford to play ping-pong footy up and back, transition footy, because not having a midfield, you're going to get smashed in that area," Eade said.

"And the fact Sydney are probably one of the best running sides in the competition, we'll have to be mindful of that.

"We'll have to do some things differently and try and make it into an ugly game."

The Suns are already without Gary Ablett, David Swallow, Jaeger O'Meara and Dion Prestia from their starting midfield.

Eade said the club would take a more serious look into the catastrophic injury toll in the coming weeks with an independent investigation.

But of more immediate concern is playing the Swans and then Fremantle before a desperately-needed bye.

He said the spirit shown in last week's 53-point loss against Hawthorn was what he wanted a repeat of over the next fortnight.

"We got through last week, some injuries and issues, and now we've got the number one and two sides the next two weeks," he said.

"I don't think they'll be showing any mercy. It's certainly going to be tough for our guys."

Bennell pulled up tight from Thursday's main training session, while Eade said Malceski was not right to return to AFL level, despite the desperate situation his team faced

"We just felt he needed another week in the seconds. He hadn't had a lot of training before he played last week in the Darwin heat," Eade said.

"He's a player we could play now but I don't think we're doing the right thing by him."