The remarkable consistency and metronomic availability of St Kilda co-captain Callum Wilkie is under siege, following a back injury sustained in his side's loss to the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday night.
The star defender has featured in 164 consecutive contests since his 2019 debut.
Still, the 30-year-old is no certainty to extend that streak in Sunday's clash with the Richmond Tigers, following an incidental knee to the back from Suns forward Ben King in the second quarter of the clash.
Wilkie bravely attempted to return to the field of play, but was hardly himself upon that return, with St Kilda ultimately saving their leader from himself in removing him from the 29-point loss.
Ross Lyon was pragmatic in discussing the injury, post-match.
"It's just AFL footy, you don't have your best 23 running around every week," Lyon said.
"He was pretty brave.
"It was interesting to see our team without him. Hopefully he gets up for (the clash with) Richmond."
The potential loss of Wilkie only compounded the absence of another of the Saints' (and the league's) very best, in Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.
The smooth mover was ruled out of the contest before it began, having travelled to Darwin under an injury cloud after copping a "corkie" in his lower leg in his side's victory over Carlton last week.
The niggle refused to subside in time for the slick superstar to suit up against Damien Hardwick's fancied side.
"I thought he'd play, he thought he'd play, he wanted to play tonight," Lyon said.
"There was a little bit of soreness, we thought it was a corkie, so he had a scan. There was a little bit of bleeding, and they (medical team) think it's a corkie still.
"They couldn't make a definitive decision, so we need another week to let it settle. We'll find out during the week."
The Saints can ill afford to be without either needle mover as they chase a season that began with one win and three losses. Recent form has seen the Moorabbin natives move to 4-5, but further progress will undoubtedly become more difficult if either or both of their very best face further time on the sidelines.
