The injury curse at the Gold Coast SUNS has begun to subside with five returning players named in the extended squad to face Carlton at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Key defender Steven May and classy midfielder Harley Bennell headline a long list, which also includes Alex Sexton, Sam Day and Matt Shaw in the 25-man squad.

Despite widespread speculation earlier in the week, captain Gary Ablett won’t make his long awaited return from a shoulder injury against the Blues, with the dual Brownlow medallist requiring further time before being cleared fit to resume.

“We were hopeful that Gary would be available for selection, however it was determined that Gary wasn’t ready to return this weekend,“ GM – Football Operations, Marcus Ashcroft, said.

Danny Stanley is the only forced change from the hard fought loss to Fremantle before the bye, with the utility set for at least a month on the sidelines with a medial ligament injury. The other change was defender Clay Cameron, who has been omitted from the provisional squad.

Versatile key position player Sam Day returns for his first senior appearance since he dislocated his elbow in a NEAFL game in late April. The South Australian missed six weeks before returning in the reserves for a game before the bye.

The return of Bennell, Sexton and Shaw will provide the midfield with some much-needed depth, with the onball brigade being heavily depleted in recent weeks against high quality opposition. Bennell has endured a stop-start season, with injury and disciplinary issues restricting his ability to build continuity.

Another player who has suffered a frustrating first half of 2015 is May. The backman played the first five games of the season before missing the next three weeks through suspension. He returned to play Hawthorn and Sydney before being substituted out of the game against the Swans with an adductor strain that forced him to miss the Fremantle game.

Round 13 AFL Premiership Team

B: H. Schade, T. McKenzie, J. Harbrow
HB: K. Kolodjashnij, S. May, A. Saad
C: L. Russell, T. Miller, J. Lonergan
HF: A. Boston, T. Lynch, H. Bennell
F: B. Matera, C. Dixon, S. Day
R: T. Nicholls, M. Rischitelli, M. Hallahan
Interchange (from): A. Sexton, N. Malceski, J. Leslie, M. Shaw, A. Raines, P. Wright, S. Lemmens

IN: S. May, S. Day, A. Sexton, H. Bennell, M. Shaw
OUT: D. Stanley (Knee), C. Cameron (Omitted)