Melbourne defender Steven May is targeting a return from a fractured larynx in this weekend's clash against his former team the Gold Coast Suns.

The 33-year-old was a late withdrawal from the Demons' opening-round loss to Greater Western Sydney and failed to play the club's defeat to North Melbourne last Sunday.

Demons High Performance Manager, Selwyn Griffith, provided an update on Wednesday.

"Steven saw the specialist on Saturday and they were really happy with how he has recovered," Griffith said.

"The advice was that they'd be comfortable with him integrating into some training this week.

"He'll look to train on Thursday and then we'll determine his return to play from that session."

May received the injury following an accidental knock to the throat at training two days prior to the Round 1 clash against the Giants.

His injury is similar to the one that skipper Max Gawn suffered in the pre-season, which put the seven-time All-Australian out of training for six weeks.

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin hinted earlier in the week the star defender was close to a return.

"Steven May saw a specialist and got some pretty positive news," he told media.

"So once again, we'll listen to all the instructions through the week and make sure that he's right to go."

After 123 games, May left the Suns at the conclusion of the 2018 season to join the Demons on a lucrative contract.

He was a key member of the club's drought-breaking premiership triumph in 2021, forming a damaging partnership with fellow key defender Jake Lever.

Saturday's contest against the Suns looms as a vital clash for Melbourne after coming off a disappointing effort against North Melbourne in Round 2.

In other injury news, Izak Rankine appears a certain-starter for Adelaide's encounter against North Melbourne on Sunday Adelaide Oval.

Adelaide High Performance Manager, Darren Burgess, confirmed earlier reports that Rankine's third-quarter substitution last weekend was about managing his loads..

"Izak's work-rate throughout the game was pretty extraordinary and at a level that we'd seen a couple of times in the past where he'd had some issues, particularly at the MCG," Burgess said.

"So in consultation with Izak, we thought it was the right thing to do to take him off.

"He played the earlier game with the Indigenous All-Stars and has not missed a session in pre-season, and fortunately we were in the rare position to be able to do that."

Over in Brisbane, defender Keidean Coleman is increasing his running loads and will progress to skills at training today as he looks to return from last year's season-ending ACL injury.

Coleman's teammate Charlie Cameron remains a test to play this weekend after suffering from calf tightness.