Gold Coast ruckman Tom Nicholls is making a desperate bid to overcome a long-term knee injury to be available for the SUNS' final two matches of the season.
Nicholls has been missing since injuring the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in round seven against North Melbourne.
But with the SUNS' finals aspirations hanging by a thread, the 22-year-old is almost back to full health and doing everything possible to make himself available.
He has been running for the past three weeks and has ramped up contact work in the past seven days.
"I've always had in my head I'd be a chance," Nicholls told AFL.com.au on Wednesday morning.
"It's a good motivator in rehab; it can get pretty mundane. To train with the goal of being out there to play at the end of the year has been very helpful.
"My running and strength work has improved a lot and it feels good. I'm pulling up well after each training session so that's given me the confidence."
Whether the SUNS select him may depend on the result of Saturday's home match against Port Adelaide.
A loss would spell the end of their finals ambitions, so they might be hesitant to return Nicholls for just two matches, but after three months on the sidelines he's hoping to get the green light regardless.
"For me our finals chances won't (have a bearing on availability). I just want to get out there, but we'll take that into consideration, you take everything into it," he said.
"We'll just have to wait and see."
Nicholls' availability would be a major shot in the arm for the SUNS, who have stumbled since losing skipper Gary Ablett to a season-ending shoulder injury.
Aside from their skipper, the SUNS are also missing ruckmen Zac Smith (knee) and Charlie Dixon (quad), Daniel Gorringe has played the past two weeks in the ruck after a disrupted build-up himself.
After re-signing for a further two seasons, Nicholls said he had no intentions of ever leaving Gold Coast.
"Deep down I knew I was going to stay here," he said.
"I love the boys up here and I couldn't imagine being anywhere else and playing with anyone else.
"The lifestyle is so good and most importantly I think where we've come from has been a massive step and I can just see the growth."
