St Kilda coach Brett Ratten is hopeful veteran Dan Hannebery hasn't played in last game in Saints colours, despite being subbed out during Saturday night's loss to Geelong in what was just his second game of the year.
Hannebery has managed just 17 games with the Saints since making the move from Sydney, making his club debut in Round 14, 2019, with a string of soft tissue injuries keeping the Saint sidelined.
The 31-year-old was subbed out of the game at three quarter time with an ankle injury, replaced on the ground by Zak Jones. Speaking to media post-game, Ratten admitted that the club had to be careful with Hannebery, casting doubt over his inclusion in the side to take on Brisbane in Round 22.
"He's just got a bit of an ankle which is with that calf as well," Ratten said.
"We've just got to look after him. It was a risk to put him back out there and we're not taking any risks with players trying to get up for next week, and he might not even get up for next week.
"So we've just got to work through what it's going to look like for Dan post this game, so he'll be a test all the way to the last day."
Hannebery remains without a deal for 2023 after initially joining the Saints on a four-year contract.
With just two matches remaining in the home and away season and the Saints on the periphery of the top eight, Ratten said that he was hopeful the veteran would be right to help the Saints make a run at finals.
"We can take a risk with Dan but we're trying to put our best foot forward," Ratten said.
"We're still a chance, while we are still a chance we need to keep striving and that's if Dan's fit enough to play and he's ready to go, we'll make that selection.
"If he's not, we won't take the risk. We want to get him right for the following week, but we want to give ourselves a chance to win and that's what we are here for."
St Kilda's 45-point loss to the Cats at GMHBA Stadium put a dent in the club's finals aspirations, with the eighth placed Tigers winning over Port Adelaide to put a two-point buffer between the two sides.
Ratten lamented his side's poor disposal and decision making against the ladder leading Cats, conceding that the Saints were unwatchable at times.
"I thought it was more poor skill execution and decision making, where to go with the ball and sometimes it's under no pressure, medium pressure or high pressure," Ratten said.
"The skill execution really let us down to convert because we had some good looks. We weren't good enough tonight.
"We didn't even give ourselves a chance just to be in the contest or say we're closer to them to maybe challenge them at one point. At times, it was actually hard to watch."
St Kilda will host Brisbane at Marvel Stadium on Friday night in Round 22, with Sydney to follow in Round 23.
