RUCKMAN Jarrod Witts will captain Gold Coast for the first time on Sunday.

Witts has been elevated to the top job following the suspension of full-back Steven May for Sunday's match against Melbourne at the MCG.

After moving from Collingwood to Gold Coast prior to the 2017 season, Witts has played 36 of a possible 40 games – including all 18 this year – been ultra-consistent and quickly scaled the leadership ranks.

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Prior to the season, May and Tom Lynch were named co-captains, but with neither available following Lynch's knee surgery and request to leave the club, a vacancy opened.

David Swallow is also in the leadership group but will miss the match through concussion, leaving Witts and young midfielder Touk Miller as the most likely replacements.

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Witts will not only captain the Suns but take on arguably the game's most in-form player in Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn.

The 209cm ruckman has played 76 career games.