GARY Ablett will travel to Melbourne in the next 24 hours to seek further medical opinion as Gold Coast tries to determine the best course of action for his dislocated left shoulder.
Ablett had scans on Monday following Saturday night's injury, but is no clearer just how long he will be sidelined for.
General manager of football operations Marcus Ashcroft confirmed on Monday afternoon there was no bone damage, but the Suns were still trying to gather more information before releasing a prognosis.
"As we do with every player, we want to get all the facts on the table before we make a decision and plan going forward," Ashcroft said.
"Based on today's scans, our doctor has advised there is no bone damage at all … which is a positive. We still need to get further advice from specialists in Victoria.
"It's hard for me to speculate. We know with Gary it's topical and everyone wants to know what's going on, as we do, so we want to take our time and make sure once we get all the facts, by hopefully tomorrow afternoon, we can give answers to all those questions."
Ashcroft said the Suns would take Ablett's long-term best interests into consideration before making any decision.
Leading sports medico Dr Peter Larkins has said Ablett should spend at least four weeks on the sidelines in an attempt to minimise the chance of re-injuring the shoulder.
Larkins said there was a 50 per cent chance Ablett's shoulder would dislocate again if he didn't have surgery to repair it, but he would recommend an alternative recovery given the Brownlow Medal favourite's circumstances.
"My advice would be to get the pain under control, let the blood settle down in his shoulder and let him rehabilitate for three to four weeks minimum – not one to two," Larkins said on radio station 3AW on Sunday.
"That way he's more likely to get through the season rather than if he just takes the one to two [weeks' rest].
"I'd make an exception to the surgery rule and I'd see where he is within two to three weeks, knowing I'd be aiming for the four-week mark at best."
Ablett's absence could put a question mark over the Suns' finals aspirations, with Essendon and Adelaide breathing down their neck in eighth place.
Meanwhile, Brownlow betting markets were re-opened with TAB Sportsbet posting Ablett a $3 joint favourite with Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury.
Sydney Swans midfielder Josh Kennedy is next in line at $5, while Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin and his Geelong counterpart Joel Selwood are rated joint $9 chances.
The markets posted before round 16 had Ablett a $1.60 favourite, ahead of Pendlebury ($7) and Kennedy ($9).
