Matt Rowell won't be rushed back when Gold Coast put an eight-game Darwin winning streak on the line against St Kilda.

The reigning Brownlow Medallist missed last round's defeat of GWS with an ankle injury.

Suns coach Damien Hardwick said the plan was for the midfielder to return against Port Adelaide next Friday.

"He's probably doubtful," Hardwick said of this Saturday's Saints clash.

"We'll probably look to pencil him in against Port Adelaide in a week-and-a-half's time.

"He (Rowell) is a tough lad, but we just want to make sure when we get him back he's not missing another week after that," added Hardwick.

"We'd rather be a little more conservative this week to make sure he's right next week."

Rowell missed the first three games of the season with a finger injury sustained in the State of Origin fixture and the side is 1-3 with him on the park in this campaign.

Alex Davies was impressive in his absence against the Giants and should get another chance to push his case for a regular berth in Darwin.

Ruckman Ned Moyle will also keep his place, with veteran tall Jarrod Witts potentially playing alongside him after being rested last week.

"We had some initial discussions of what it may look like," Hardwick said of the dual-ruck strategy.

"We were really happy with Moyle last week, he'll obviously play. Whether we bring in the second ruck, we'll wait and see."

The Suns notched impressive wins over the Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn on their annual Darwin trip last season to extend their impressive record to 8-2 in Northern Territory.

"When I was at Richmond i would circle the Dreamtime game (at the MCG), it feels like another grand final," the Suns' former Tigers premiership star Daniel Rioli, ahead of his second Darwin visit, said.

"And now to go back to Darwin, where I played all my junior footy, it's pretty special.

"It's a refresher; you don't get to go home very often ... games in Darwin surrounded by family and friends, to switch off, time to go fishing.

"It's good for mental health ... by the time we're back we're ready to go for the second half of the season."