Struggling St Kilda has been dealt another blow with veterans Dan Hannebery and Jarryn Geary likely to be absent medium-term after suffering fresh injuries, but star ruckman Rowan Marshall will return.
After their season slipped to 1-2 following a humiliating 75-point defeat to Essendon on Easter Saturday, eyes turned toward what reinforcements the Saints could bring in from their lengthy injury list ahead of this weekend's match against West Coast with Marshall named as a definite inclusion.
But there is no chance for Hannebery or Geary to return, with the ex-Swan suffering another calf injury - this time on the other leg to the calf problem he had already been rehabilitating from.
The 30-year-old has only played 13 games in two seasons since crossing over from Sydney to St Kilda with soft tissue injuries consistently keeping him sidelined.
Hannebery showed his importance to the Saints by playing a crucial role in their first finals win in 10 years against the Bulldogs in the elimination final last season.
Co-captain Geary is also yet to play a game this season after breaking his leg during a training mishap in late January.
He was close to a return to senior action but an ankle scan revealed he needed surgery on a bone spur, with the 32-year-old unlikely to return for at least six weeks.
In positive news for the Saints, talented ruckman Marshall has been pencilled in for his first senior match for the season after missing the first three games with a hot spot in his foot.
Marshall will be expected to shoulder the bulk of the ruck work - an area the Saints have been dominated in during previous matches - with Shaun McKernan, Jake Carlisle and Josh Battle to pinch hit as St Kilda face West Coast's superstar Nic Naitanui.
Despite midfielder Jade Gresham being an enforced out after an Achilles injury against the Bombers cut short his season, Zak Jones is expected to be passed fit even though he didn't finish the same match after rolling his ankle.
The Saints have a tough month of football after their stuttering start to the season, with matches against Richmond (Marvel), Port Adelaide (Adelaide Oval) and Hawthorn (Marvel) following the Eagles clash.
