GARY Ablett is now just one good training session away from returning for Gold Coast.

Ablett ticked another box on Monday with a strong session at Metricon Stadium, and now needs to complete only Wednesday's main session to play Carlton in Melbourne on Sunday.

David Swallow (knee), Harley Bennell (calf), Steven May (groin) and Rory Thompson (hip flexor) are also in the frame to play the Blues.

Ablett has not played since round two, when he aggravated the left shoulder he dislocated last year.

Gold Coast football manager Marcus Ashcroft said Ablett needed to get through Wednesday's session before match committee met that afternoon.

"He trained well today and went to another level," Ashcroft told AFL.com.au.

"We're keen for him to play, on the proviso he does everything he needs to do on Wednesday.

"We're optimistic still."

Swallow, Bennell, May and Thompson are in the same boat as their skipper, needing to prove their fitness during the main session.

Swallow has not played since round four, and Ashcroft said the Suns would need to weigh up how many players should return from a long absence at once.

The 2014 best and fairest winner has been running strongly for weeks, but it might be seen as risky to reintroduce two midfielders who have not played for nine and 11 weeks respectively.

Ashcroft said May was "expected" to play, while Thompson was a little more doubtful.

That duo would add class and experience to a young Suns backline that has stood up well in recent weeks.

"We know there's some better quality but we have to look after them when they come back in," Ashcroft said.

"It's a fine line. You need to make sure you have some good players coming back in, but you want to set them up to succeed rather than fail.

"This is the first step of them playing the rest of the year. It’s a long-term view as well."