Gold Coast SUNS defender Wil Powell has sustained a hamstring injury which will sideline him for the next 6-8 weeks.

Powell, who was back in full training following ankle surgery after a serious injury last season, injured the hamstring in a training session.

"He's done a fairly bad hamstring, a grade three, so it'll probably be six weeks. He starts running in a little while but it's a fairly substantial one,” GC SUNS General Manager of Football Performance Wayne Campbell said.

"We were amazed how well he was going. He'd put in a power of work. With some of those gruesome ones they can take quite a bit of time, but he'd been training really well."

Ben King and Lachie Weller are both on track for an early-season return as they ramp up their involvement following their ACL injuries.

King is approaching the 12-month mark since his injury and, pending hitting the markers set by the medical team, is expected to be available for Round 1.

Meanwhile Weller has had an impressive rehab period and is expected to be available in the early rounds of the season.

Connor Budarick is firming for a mid-season return as he progresses in his own ACL rehab.

The Gold Coast SUNS will begin its 2023 season on March 18 against Sydney Swans at home.