By Paul Daffey 

Gold Coast SUNS coach Guy McKenna says the SUNS performances during the absence of captain Gary Ablett and fellow senior players over the past fortnight have given the club food for thought.

Gold Coast SUNS have had creditable losses to North Melbourne (34 points) and Fremantle (seven) in the past two rounds and McKenna says his young players have "matured six months in three weeks".

McKenna is considering playing Ablett more up forward when he returns to give the SUNS young midfielders greater opportunity to develop in the engine room.

"I had a chat with Gary about it yesterday," McKenna said on SEN's Morning Glory program on Wednesday.

"He said, 'I'm really confident I can now spend time away from the midfield and go forward, sit out on the wing, roll behind the ball.'

"He said it because he's got more confidence in Dion Prestia, David Swallow and Josh Caddy and these blokes getting the ball forward for us."

Ablett injured his knee late in the 65-point loss to the Brisbane Lions in round four.

There's been speculation that he might return against Greater Western Sydney this week or against Western Bulldogs the following round.

Of his fellow experienced SUNS players, midfielder Michael Rischitelli has also missed the past two games, while Jarrod Harbrow is on the long-term injury list and Nathan Bock broke his leg early in the match against Fremantle on Saturday.

The SUNS performances without their core of senior players have excited the club because their young players have stepped up in the veterans' absence.

"We haven't changed game plan. We haven't changed our style of footy," McKenna said.

"I just think the boys have looked around and thought, 'Hang on.'

"Instead of just falling in behind Nathan Bock at centre half-back, or our defenders midfielders and falling into line behind Gary (Ablett) and Michael Rischitelli, they've stepped forward.

"That's been the pleasing thing."