St Kilda could be required to field a second-string backline for their season-opening clash against a lethal Adelaide attack as pre-season setbacks have struck the Saints.
The Moorabbin club nervously awaits scan results on a dislocated shoulder to senior stopper Dougal Howard, who could be ruled out of the opening weeks of the coming campaign should his setback be serious.
A best-case result could have Howard back training in a matter of days, while the opposing outcome has the chance to delay his season months into the draw.
A Round 1 absence will have Ross Lyon's renowned rearguard facing an uphill battle to start the season on the right foot, having also lost No.1 tall Josh Battle to free agency over the off-season.
The ever-reliable Callum Wilkie will be a vital presence on the Saints' last line, but who surrounds him when Lyon's men face the Crows' attacking contingent of Darcy Fogarty, Taylor Walker and Riley Thilthorpe is more of a mystery.
Zaine Cordy looks to be the next man up off the back of an eight-game season in the red, white and black - his lowest games tally since his rookie season a decade ago.
The Saints worked with forward Anthony Caminiti in defence during the latter stages of last season instead of recalling Cordy, however the former has faced his own interruptions this summer to be placed behind the eight ball.
Caminiti may also be required at the other end of the field in the wake of Tim Membrey's departure, with Lyon likely to look at a tall forward trio of Max King, Cooper Sharman and Caminiti.
Further down the pecking order, the Saints have a handful of uncapped defenders who could be thrown into the deep end to start the new season, with athletic utility Isaac Keeler one who has impressed over the course of his third pre-season with the Saints.
The 198cm talent, who was drafted as a ruck-forward hybrid, was used as a defender for Sandringham last year and showed glimpses as a reliable player behind the ball.
Keeler could be in contention to replace Howard and slot into the back six alongside Cordy for an AFL debut in his home state of South Australia.
Draftee James Barrat is another who could be considered for the Crows clash despite landing at St Kilda just two months ago, however a trio of Barrat, Wilkie and Cordy would leave the Saints undersized down back as they stand at 194cm, 191cm and 195cm respectively.
Both Walker and Fogarty stop the tape at 192cm but will have the size advantage on their side, while Thilthorpe clears Cordy by six centimetres.
While seen as more of an attacking asset down back, 194cm second-year Saint Arie Schoenmaker is another to consider given his aerial prowess. The Tasmanian is a good reader of the ball but might lack the lockdown ability of others in the mix.
Top 10 draft pick Alix Tauru is also unlikely to be called upon for Round 1 given his current recovery from a back injury that has him facing up to two months on the sidelines.
Adelaide's tall forwards won't be the only headache for the Saints' backline either, with Josh Rachele, Izak Rankine, Ben Keays and new recruit Alex Neal-Bullen likely to combine for the first time come Round 1.
The depth of the Crows' speartip, coupled with Wilkie's required role on an opposing tall, could force half-backs Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Jack Sinclair to play a more defensive game, while the Saints should also have Jimmy Webster, Liam Stocker and Marcus Windhager available for similar roles.
Pulling Windhager from the midfield group only adds concerns elsewhere given the Saints are also set to be short on engine room options as Mattaes Phillipou (leg), Paddy Dow (knee) and Liam Henry (knee) are sidelined also.
To make matters worse, the Saints may be required to have Harry Boyd - who could be another defensive option - positioned as their standalone ruckman after the revelation of Rowan Marshall's pelvic stress fracture.
Should Marshall too be ruled out of playing Round 1, the Saints won't have the option to shift him forward and potentially play Caminiti in defence, with Boyd then instead taking the ruck duties and also being unable to slot into the backline.
