Superstar Patrick Cripps' hamstring injury has rubbed salt into the wound for Carlton after their red-hot start to the AFL season came to a shuddering halt with a 30-point loss to Gold Coast.
Cripps was subbed out of Sunday's match at the end of the first quarter as the Suns bounced back from last weekend's loss to GWS in style with a 13.14 (92) to 8.14 (62) win at Metricon Stadium.
Blues coach Michael Voss was hopeful the 27-year-old, arguably the best player in the competition in the first three rounds, wouldn't be sidelined for too long.
"These sorts of ones are an assessment and we wait and see," Voss said.
"I think it's only minor but I've had scenarios before where you say that and it turns out to be something else.
"We'll just wait and find out and do the assessment as needed and make some calls on what happens from there."
Without Cripps' influence in the middle of the park, the Blues were overrun in the stoppages with the Suns winning clearances 45 to 27.
Up against Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni after Marc Pittonent's withdrawal on Saturday due to a back issue, Suns' ruck Jarrod Witts had a day out, winning 42 hitouts and seven clearances.
That dominance allowed Suns midfielders Touk Miller (32 disposals, eight clearances) and Noah Anderson (35 disposals, 10 clearances) to star, while Lachie Weller was dynamic throughout the game for the Suns as well, with 31 touches, eight marks and two goal assists.
"They were tougher than us, cleaner than us," Voss said.
"We were still able to put some tackle heat on them but the ability to be able to then get it to the outside was pretty impressive across the night.
"It was forcing us to make some tactical adjustments that we wouldn't want to normally do."
Malcolm Rosas, one of four changes from the team that lost to the Giants, kicked his first three goals in AFL football in an impressive showing while Mabior Chol also had three majors for the hosts.
Another incoming player, forward Josh Corbett, kicked two goals for the Suns, who lost defender Jy Farrar in the second quarter to a hamstring injury.
Jack Lukosius will also have scans on a leg injury he suffered late in the game, limping off shortly before the final siren.
Suns coach Stuart Dew was pleased with the way his team responded after their limp display last week.
"It was good," Dew said.
"Last week was disappointing and we got back to work this week.
"It was a good process, good acknowledgement of where we were poor last week and we went about our business today and across the board, not relying on too few."
Gold Coast travel to Melbourne to face St Kilda next weekend while Carlton are back at the MCG against last-placed Port Adelaide with Voss hopeful Pittonent will return.
