St Kilda recruits Paddy Dow and Riley Bonner are both in the mix to return to the Saints' side for Saturday's meeting with Adelaide following recent injury setbacks.
Both players missed the club's upset Round 17 win over Sydney due to ankle and foot injuries respectively, with Bonner a late out from Ross Lyon's side to face the Swans.
Dow dealt with ankle soreness after failing to see out the Saints' narrow loss to Port Adelaide the week prior.
Both the ex-Blue and Bonner will train fully at Thursday's main session to prove their fitness and potentially return to the side that handed the premiership favourites just their third defeat of 2024.
St Kilda will be forced into at least one change for this week's trip to South Australia, with midfielder Marcus Windhager sidelined for at least a month due to a hamstring strain.
Dow could be the man to replace the sidelined young Saint, while veteran Seb Ross could return after being managed a fortnight ago before returning through the VFL last weekend, where he collected 30 disposals in a loss to Sydney's reserves.
Rookie Hugo Garcia, veteran Zak Jones and the uncapped Angus McLennan also impressed for Sandringham and could be considered alongside Ross, Dow and Bonner.
Lyon confirmed on Thursday that midfielder Brad Crouch won't return, with the 30-year-old yet to add to his one appearance this year, which came in the club's season opener against Geelong.
Crouch was sidelined by a knee injury early in the year and played four games at VFL level before facing another setback.
Lyon also confirmed tall Jack Hayes won't return to action either as he too continues to nurse a hampered knee.
The Saints, who have lost star forward Max King for the remainder of the 2024 season, could welcome back emerging swingman Anthony Caminiti within the next fortnight following his ankle injury.
St Kilda face Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday at 7:30pm (AEST).
