THE Gold Coast preparations for QClash6 with Brisbane at the Gabba were rocked to the core when Suns skipper Gary Ablett was ruled out of the grudge match with a calf injury.

Ablett lost his race against the clock to be fit for the Sunshine Stoush after failing to train all week and will be replaced by ex-Lion Jared Brennan in the Gold Coast side.

The 2009 Brownlow Medallist had been suffering from general soreness since the loss to Adelaide last Saturday and was sent for scans which revealed no major strains, tears or breaks.



Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna said ''read into it what you like'' when asked about Ablett's absence from the final training session yesterday as mystery swirled around Ablett's availability.



The AFL superstar spent most of yesterday in ice baths in a desperate bid to be fit with Suns insiders more hopeful than confident that he would play given his fanatical approach to recovery and injury management.



But the Gold Coast's worst fears were realised last night when they had no other option but to inform the AFL that Ablett was ruled out.



His late withdrawal sparked a frenzy on Twitter where Ablett said the injury was only minor.



"Hopefully just this week,'' he tweeted.



Brennan's 11th hour reprieve throws a real X-factor into the Queensland derby.



He produced a spectacular individual performance to win the Marcus Ashcroft Medal in QClash 1 but he was originally overlooked for today's match due to ordinary form in the NEAFL in his comeback from a knee injury.



At his best, he is a genuine match-winner. At worst, the mercurial utility can produce costly errors. His very presence will cause the Lions coaching staff some anxious moments in the build-up to the first bounce.



The loss of Ablett cancels out any advantage the Gold Coast would gain from Lions great Simon Black being ruled out through a groin injury.



Meanwhile, Brisbane enforcer Daniel Merrett is set to play in the forward line and relieve Matthew Leuenberger in the ruck in his comeback from a groin injury.



The key defender was expected to miss the Sunshine Stoush after being a late withdrawal from the loss to Hawthorn in Launceston last Sunday but was a shock selection on Thursday night after being described as "unlikely'' to play by senior coach Michael Voss earlier in the week.



He trained at the Gabba yesterday and completed most of the session with the main group before splintering off to do a fitness test under the watchful eye of Lions conditioning staff.



Merrett went through a series of drills with ruck coach Jamie Charman at the end of training yesterday as part of his fitness test.



It is understood he pulled up well after training and is expected to play.



The last time Merrett played forward in a QClash, it backfired on Brisbane spectacularly with the Suns forward line getting off the chain and claiming the inaugural Queensland derby in 2011.