By Michael Whiting

Gold Coast SUNS coach Guy McKenna said tomorrow's scoreboard against the Western Bulldogs would still not determine whether he thought the GC SUNS had been successful or not.

Saturday's match will be the first time this season the GC SUNS have faced an opponent for the second time after the Bulldogs handed them a 71-point defeat in round three at Etihad Stadium.

While McKenna said facing the Bulldogs a second time would be a good gauge of their development, he was not interested in the result or margin.

"For them to have another go on some of these opponents is going to be fantastic," McKenna said.

"We don't look at the scoreboard."

He said the return of first-year players David Swallow and Zac Smith from ankle injuries was exciting, but the club and its supporters had to keep things in perspective.

"We're not bringing back premiership players or 200 game players," McKenna said.

"Zac has been phenomenal in the ruck and we expect him to grow into that position, he has a lot to learn along with David Swallow.

"We want him (Swallow) to use the ball better and burst through the lines and get into open space. That's how we measure it and if that means we lose by more than 71 points then so be it, but individually we will see these blokes grow and collectively when that happens those margins will start to come down."

McKenna said the GC SUNS had learnt some harsh lessons from the earlier meeting this season.

"You give them time and space they'll open you up," he said.

"(They're a) Good kicking side, like to move the ball quickly. If they get their attacking mo-jo up we're going to have our hands full. They're not in great form and we don't want to be the side that plays them back into form if you know what I mean."

Aside from the inclusions of Smith, Swallow and Charlie Dixon – who will play at centre half forward – the big GC SUNS selection news was the omission of experienced onballer Dan Harris.

McKenna said a combination of his form and some niggling injuries had cost him.

"His body is probably not 100 percent but I think he realises he's not in the (best) form," he said.

"Hayden Jolly comes in, probably a younger version of Harro, and we'll see how he goes in the clearances. We've got a big month of footy coming, St Kilda, Collingwood, Geelong and Brisbane, and we're going to need him for that."