It may come down to gut feel rather than form or attitude for Gold Coast to determine if Nathan Ablett is worthy of an AFL contract.

Ablett has been on notice for the past month to prove his worth to the Suns and secure a spot on their 2011 list and possibly alongside older brother Gary, who is heavily tipped to join the fledgling club from Geelong.

However, Nathan Ablett has missed the Suns' last two VFL matches with a virus, after being a late withdrawal against Werribee at Southport on Saturday.

With only one game remaining, Suns coach Guy McKenna said he and the club's recruiting guru Scott Clayton will have a dilemma on their hands if the 24-year-old fails to play the final match against Collingwood at Victoria Park.

"He wasn't quite right again," McKenna said.

"He was feeling crook and had a fever last week... and did the warm-up on Friday and was no good.

"(If he doesn't play against Collingwood's VFL team) we have to make that decision with Scott once again as we have ascertained our list.

"We'd make that call and fingers crossed he plays and we don't have to do that."

Ablett's saving grace is that he can hold down a key position which is a troubling area for the Suns.

The Gold Coast have a good sprinkling of midfielders, small forwards and run-with defenders who will make the grade but no stand-out key position players.

High-profile recruit Karmichael Hunt is earmarked for defence, but only as a second or third key defender and he has now been put on ice until next year after failing to get a kick against the Tigers at Southport.

McKenna said Hunt was physically spent and needs some time away from the game after coming off a six-month stint playing rugby in France before joining the Suns midway through the VFL season.

"We only wanted to play him for three or four games and he was keen to continue and that was fantastic," said McKenna.

"He blew a flat, and everything is OK but he is physically spent."

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