GUN recruit Allen Christensen will make his Lions debut against the Suns at Metricon Stadium on Friday night.

But the Suns’ hopes of picking their best side have been dashed with star duo Gary Ablett and Jaeger O’Meara unavailable.

Allen Christensen will take on the Suns. Source: News Corp Australia

The Suns do not know what their Round 1 side looks like with the return date for Ablett and O‘Meara still to be decided.

The Suns wanted Ablett to play a half against the Lions and believed he had completed all the necessary rehabilitation work on his injured shoulder and was ready to go.

But the captain yesterday expressed his doubts to the coaching staff about the shoulder and will not play.

O’Meara who had both kneecaps shaved off in a revolutionary new procedure to treat chronic tendinitis in the UK over summer, has been ruled out.

Both are in doubt for Round 1.

Ablett has been in full training since the club returned from Christmas break but continues to wear the orange hat which specifies no contact in the match drills.

Ablett refuses to take painkillers and is attempting to give the rebuilt joint maximum recovery time before he puts it under major duress.

The rumour going around footy circles is that he cannot raise his arm above shoulder height.

But he has never had a major injury in his career and it seems the restricted movement is because he does not yet have full confidence in the joint.

Gary Ablett tests his left shoulder at Gold Coast training. Picture: Adam Head Source: News Corp Australia

The return of Geelong premiership player Christensen means Lions coach Justin Leppitsch has his best side together for the first time this pre-season for a tune-up before the start of the home-and-away season.

The only guaranteed starter who is not available is Pearce Hanley who is not due back from a hip injury until midway through the season.

Leppitsch said there was no need to nurse Christensen back into action after his back injury and confirmed he would slot straight into the midfield rotation.

“He will play, he just has to get through the main training session,’’ he said.

“He came close two weeks ago, we nearly played him but decided it was a week too early.’’

With key forward Tom Lynch suspended for the first match of the season, the Suns have decided to play him in the reserves against Brisbane to give the likely Round 1 forward line the chance to click.

Gary Ablett and Jaeger O'Meara in action during Gold Coast Suns training. Picture: Adam Head Source: News Corp Australia

Defender Rory Thompson is set to make his first appearance of the year against the Lions which gives coach Rodney Eade the flexibility of using one of his big defenders — Thompson, Steve May or Jack Leslie in attack.

Football manager Marcus Ashcroft was unable to set a return date for Ablett but confirmed O’Meara would not play against the Lions.

“We are just conscious of making sure he is right for the majority of the year,’’ he said.

“We could force the issue and maybe get him back but there is just no point.

“We are not going to put any definitive date on it.’’

There is no chance to play a scratch match before Round 1 but the NEAFL side does have a practice match against Brisbane on the same weekend as the Suns’ season opener against Melbourne.

Ablett is unlikely to play at the lower level but if the Suns feel O’Meara needs a tune-up in the reserves he could play that week and return to the seniors for Round 2.

Gary Ablett is the most expensive player in SuperCoach at $734,600. Is he in your team? Start picking your squad now!