GARY Ablett will play for Gold Coast on Saturday against Melbourne.

After months of speculation over whether he would recover from shoulder surgery in time for round one, Suns coach Rodney Eade confirmed the champion midfielder's availability after a Tuesday morning training session.

However, Eade said fellow midfielder Jaeger O'Meara would likely return through the NEAFL after radical off-season surgery to both knees.

Ablett has not played a pre-season match, but convinced himself and the coaching staff he was back to 100 per cent after a series of tough sessions over the past week.

Eade said the dual Brownlow medalist was fitter than ever and his shoulder was stronger than prior to dislocating it against Collingwood last July. 

"Certainly Gary will play, there's no doubt," Eade said. 

"He's done an exceptional job really.

"I was always confident. I don't know if Gary was. It was his first major injury, and when you get something you've never experienced before, there's always some doubts creep into your mind.

"I think it was a matter of being clear in his mind, because he's so professional and organised in what he does, that everything was ticked off methodically in his mind and he's timed it perfectly." 

Ablett completed Tuesday's session strongly, riding tackles, taking overhead marks and looking uninhibited on either side of his body. 

O'Meara also looked strong after surgery on both knees in November, but Eade said the Suns would likely err on the side of caution and ease him back through the reserves. 

Like many other decisions ahead of round one, it hasn't been easy though.

"He trained exceptionally well last Saturday in match practise, actually dominated," Eade said.

"I think he's always had his mindset with the program set by the surgeon in London, that he'd like a game in the NEAFL. 

"I think there's a few boxes to tick, but he's got to be confident and the medical staff has got to be confident. It'll (senior selection) be a long shot at this stage."

Ahead of his first premiership match in charge of the Suns, Eade said he was still undecided on three or four spots. 

With Tom Lynch (suspended) and Charlie Dixon (ankle) unavailable, and Sam Day with just one reserves match back from a calf injury, most conjecture revolves around Gold Coast's forward line.

"There's probably eight guys for four spots," Eade said.