Six weeks on from sustaining a broken thumb, Steele Sidebottom is set to make his return to the Collingwood midfield.

Sidebottom and forward Alex Fasolo are the two inclusions to the Collingwood outfit that will travel to the Gold Coast to meet the Suns at Metricon Stadium on Saturday evening.

They replace injured defender Alan Toovey (jarred knee) and forward Patrick Karnezis, who has been omitted.

The return of Sidebottom is a timely boost to a midfield that has called upon several youngsters to help shoulder the load in recent weeks.

Join us for training at Metricon Stadium on Friday 5pm.

Sidebottom polled the maximum ten votes from coaches Nathan Buckley and Justin Leppitsch in the opening match of the home and away season against Brisbane, honouring his 19 disposals, five tackles and two goals in heavy conditions.

Trouble struck at the end of the game when he damaged his right thumb, sending him into his first sustained stint on the sidelines since making his big league debut in 2009.

TEAM SHEET: Hear from Sidebottom and Toovey.

“I had to get through training today and get through training,” Sidebottom told Collingwood Media’s Team Sheet on Thursday evening.

“I went and saw the surgeon for the last time today and the bone’s healed, so I’m just really looking forward to getting back out there because it has been a long six weeks.”

TWO-MINUTE PREVIEW: Everything you need to know about Saturday's match.

For Fasolo, meanwhile, Saturday’s match will be his first in the senior side since he was omitted following the loss to Adelaide in round two.

In the weeks since, Fasolo has averaged 15.6 disposals across five VFL games, playing mostly at half forward, where he is also averaging 2.8 tackles and 3.0 inside 50s.

He has also kicked eight goals for the season, with a high of three against Geelong in Bendigo a fortnight ago.

Two untried draftees are among Collingwood’s three emergencies for the match. Defenders Jonathon Marsh and Brayden Maynard have received encouragement from the match committee for their fine work in the VFL with a place in the senior squad.

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Midfielder Sam Dwyer remains in the frame, rounding out the 25.

A bye ensures Collingwood’s VFL team will take this weekend off before facing Coburg on Saturday 30 May.

Gold Coast v Collingwood
Round 8 2015
Saturday 23 May
Metricon Stadium, 4.35pm

Collingwood
B: Tom Langdon, Nathan Brown, Marley Williams
HB: Adam Oxley, Jack Frost, Tyson Goldsack
C: Travis Varcoe, Dane Swan, Paul Seedsman
HF: Jamie Elliott, Jesse White, Steele Sidebottom
F: Jarryd Blair, Travis Cloke, Alex Fasolo
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Taylor Adams, Scott Pendlebury
Int: Jarrod Witts, Tim Broomhead, Jack Crisp, Jordan De Goey
Emg: Sam Dwyer, Jonathon Marsh, Brayden Maynard

IN: Alex Fasolo, Steele Sidebottom
OUT: Alan Toovey (jarred knee), Patrick Karnezis (omitted)

Milestone: Scott Pendlebury (200 AFL games)

Gold Coast
B: Adam Saad, Henry Schade, Kade Kolodjashnij
HB: Jarrod Harbrow, Jack Leslie, Jesse Lonergan
C: Andrew Raines, Dion Prestia, Alex Sexton
HF: Aaron Hall, Tom J. Lynch, Harley Bennell
F: Danny Stanley, Charlie Dixon, Touk Miller
Foll: Tom Nicholls, Michael Rischitelli, Mitch Hallahan
Int: Luke Russell, Trent McKenzie, Brandon Matera, Sean Lemmens
Emg: Andrew Boston, Keegan Brooksby, Greg Broughton

IN: Adam Saad, Tom J. Lynch, Luke Russell
OUT: Matt Shaw (Omitted), Zac Smith (Omitted), Greg Broughton (Omitted)