The Saints and star tall Rowan Marshall have opened contract discussions ahead of a critical 2022 season.

Marshall is currently unsigned past the end of next year, having inked a three-year deal with the club midway through a breakout 2019 campaign.

St Kilda and Marshall are circling back to the negotiations table next year, with the 26-year-old set to earn a bumper new deal, either with the Saints or elsewhere.

Despite ongoing injury setbacks, Marshall's worth to St Kilda has only grown in recent years, firming as a critical key-position weapon at Moorabbin.

While talks remain "preliminary", Saints list boss James Gallagher has revealed discussions are underway to see Marshall recommit to the club beyond 2022.

โ€œThey (contract talks) have been very preliminary at this stage,โ€ Gallagher told SEN.

โ€œRowan is as invested in our footy club as anyone. Heโ€™s really keen to stay but only when the time is right.

โ€œHe had a really interrupted year last year, so heโ€™s pretty keen to get back to full training, play some games and then once he feels settled with how heโ€™s going with his body, then weโ€™ll look to do something.

AFL Rd 3 - Collingwood v St Kilda
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 20: Rowan Marshall of the Saints celebrates a goal during the round 3 AFL match between the Collingwood Magpies and the St Kilda Saints at Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 20, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

โ€œHeโ€™s certainly a player weโ€™re really keen to keep and everything we know so far is that heโ€™s really keen to stay.โ€

The Saints announced on Friday that co-captain Jack Steele has signed a new five-year deal to remain in the red, white and black until the end of the 2027 season.

Gallagher is currently facing a sizeable retention task in 2022, with the likes of Josh Battle, Jack Bytel, Ryan Byrnes, Jarryn Geary, Jack Higgins and Thomas Highmore among those off-contract next year.