Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna has reservations about code-hopper Karmichael Hunt re-signing with the Suns when his multi-million dollar AFL contract expires at the end of 2012.

Hunt declared in a newspaper column that he has no intention of leaving the Suns when his contract runs out, although he's far from negotiating a new deal either.

The Suns defender said he was prompted to make public his thoughts after recent speculation that he may be lured to return to the NRL for 2013 by a consortium bidding for the second Brisbane licence.

"...to be honest, at this point I have no thoughts about being anywhere but at the Suns past 2012," Hunt wrote on Tuesday.

"I can't see myself returning to rugby league right now because the challenge of trying to become a quality AFL player is proving incredibly enjoyable for me."

Yet McKenna was not completely sold on it.

He said the Broncos would not have thought Hunt would cross codes in 2009 when he committed to joining the Suns and he was not banking entirely on Hunt staying.

"We'd hope so too (he stays), that's great news and it says a lot about K himself," McKenna told reporters on Wednesday.

"But understand we know things can change, as the Broncos and NRL found out - things can change."

McKenna was unclear about whether Hunt would be recalled for Saturday night's clash with St Kilda at Metricon Stadium or given his second full weekend off in the past three weeks because the reserves have a bye.

Just two weeks ago when the Suns senior and reserve sides travelled to Cairns, Hunt stayed at home.

"We're just mindful of this season's load and the last two (seasons)," McKenna said.

"He certainly moved well in the seconds on the weekend and his name is up on the board that's for sure."

McKenna was torn about the absence of St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt, who will miss the clash with suspension.

While Riewoldt's absence dilutes the Saints' scoring power, it also denies one of the Suns' young and inexperienced defenders valuable game time on one of the game's best key forwards.

"It's more of a shame Nick's not here rather than him being here," McKenna said.

He nominated Josh Toy and Joel Wilkinson as the likely minders for nimble Saints forward Stephen Milne, who is coming off an eight-goal haul against Adelaide, ahead of Jarrod Harbrow for educational reasons.

"The chance of some of our young small defenders playing on Milne will be fantastic," McKenna said.

"Jarrod Harbrow we know could play on him and we understand that would be a good match-up, but we know that."

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