St Kilda will be without small forward Dan Butler for close to a month due to a hamstring strain sustained in Thursday night's loss to the Western Bulldogs.
Starting as the tactical sub, Butler was brought into the game in the third term and would play just 32 minutes before limping from the field late into the ten-goal defeat.
A dejected Butler wouldn't see out the game due to the hamstring concern. The Saints have since confirmed the extent of the forward's setback.
"Dan Butler will spend at least the next month on the sidelines after scans today confirmed a right hamstring strain from last night's loss to the Western Bulldogs," a club update revealed.
"The small forward entered the game as the substitute before coming from the field midway through the final term and receiving treatment.
"Butler's latest setback follows pre-season ankle surgery which kept him out of the senior line-up for the first three matches of the year."
The news comes as somewhat of a positive after Ross Lyon suspected the 27-year-old might've damaged the tendon in his hamstring.
A torn hamstring would've placed Butler on the sidelines for approximately two months.
"We lost Butler with a hammy at the end. He's come off a limited pre-season," Lyon said after the Dogs loss.
"The early indication is that it's torn. They'll let it settle. He'll go get an MRI, which will tell us what signals are there. They'll grade it.
"An average hamstring (strain) is 21 days, if it's got tendon involvement it's 6-8 weeks. We'll know more and update the market tomorrow."
Veteran midfielder Zak Jones, who was replaced by Butler, was subbed out of the game for tactical reasons.
The Saints can expect to have star forward Max King available after he was replaced in Lyon's side by Jones for Round 6.
King suffered a knee injury in last week's loss to GWS, with the St Kilda spearhead initially touch-and-go for Thursday's clash with the Dogs.
Lyon could also gain recruit Paddy Dow next week, with the ex-Blue having dealt with a knee issue to start life as a Saint, while Mason Wood (collarbone), Hunter Clark (calf) and Ben Paton (pectoral) are all a chance to return in the coming weeks.
Defender Jimmy Webster's seven-game suspension will come to an end at the cessation of the club's next game.
The Saints have an eight-day turnaround for their trip to Adelaide Oval in Round 7 when they face Port Adelaide on Friday, April 26.
