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 )

St Kilda head coach Brett Ratten announced on Wednesday morning that his side would likely be bolstered with a swathe of returning talent for their Friday night date with the beleaguered Blues.

Ratten, who will coach against his former side for the third time this weekend, signalled that ruckman Rowan Marshall, half-back Hunter Clark, defensive interceptor Tom Highmore and offensive livewire Jack Higgins were all on track for returns to the senior team in Round 20.

“Higgins trained really well today. Clark trained well. Highmore trained really well, actually and Rohan Marshall as well. So, it looks like we could get four back,” he said.

“We’ve got our meeting at post this just to finalize the team, but all four will be really close.”

In spite of these returns, the news was not all positive for St Kilda fans, as Jack Sinclair will miss out due to a hamstring strain.

Sinclair was another notable absentee at Linton Street this morning, with Ratten initially claiming that the dashing half-back flanker was simply being managed.

CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 12: Jack Sinclair of the Saints in action during the round 13 AFL match between the St Kilda Saints and the Adelaide Crows at Cazaly's Stadium on June 12, 2021 in Cairns, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

However, it has since been revealed that the 2014 rookie draftee had suffered a low-grade hamstring strain in the Saints' loss to the Eagles in Perth last Saturday.

The timeline for Sinclair's return remains unknown at this stage, but if he has succumb to a similar ailment to the one suffered by fellow defender Nick Coffield earlier in the year, the mulleted Saint can expect to miss around a month of action.

Should the 26-year-old's strain be judged at this aforementioned level, he may miss the remainder of St Kilda's push for a place in the eight.

Fellow rebounder Clark trained this morning and was reported to be feeling comfortable over the ball after breaking his jaw in several places following a collision with Adelaide veteran David Mackay in Round 13.

Having ticked all of the boxes that were placed ahead of him by the Saints’ medical staff, Ratten stated that the former top 10 draftee was good to go.

“Some players react a little bit different from a broken jaw and it can take a little bit of time, but he seemed to be pretty comfortable in that space,” he said.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 01: Hunter Clark of the Saints handballs whilst being tackled by Jack Viney of the Demons during the round 15 AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the St Kilda Saints at Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 1, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Although the 50-year-old was pleased with how Clark had been operating on the training track, he was hopeful that his attack on the ball wouldn’t be muted in the future.

“Hopefully he’s as ferocious as ever,” Ratten told media via Zoom.

“I don’t see that he will have an issue with it. He trained really well today and really put his head over the footy.

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“History has shown that some players have struggled with it a little bit, but I think that he’ll be fine.”

After being forced into isolation following his visit to a Tier 1 exposure site in Melbourne ahead of the Saints' clash with West Coast, Rowan Marshall has also made a strong case to face the 13th placed Blues.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 30: Rowan Marshall of the Saints celebrates kicking a goal during the round 15 AFL match between the St Kilda Saints and the Richmond Tigers at Marvel Stadium on June 30, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Despite still being cacooned in an Airbnb in Perth, the Kiwi-born Marshall has reportedly done enough in his down time to put himself in the selection frame.

“I think he’ll be fine,” Ratten explained.

“Everybody has had a few chats with him, it’s not like he hasn’t had the contact with everybody. He’s had a program to do.

“It’s quite unique what’s happened and how he has to deal with it in the build up to this game, but he’s a professional.”

With the Saints asked to operate off a six-day break after their clash with Carlton was shifted from the original timeslot of Saturday afternoon, Marshall's partner in crime, Paddy Ryder, was given Wednesday morning off.

AFL Rd 10 - Gold Coast v St Kilda
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 06: Paddy Ryder of the Saints is chaired from the field after his 250th match during the round 10 AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and the St Kilda Saints at Metricon Stadium on August 06, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

At 33, the second member of the Moorabbin ruck club may need to used sparingly if his career is to be extended, but when asked whether the former Power and Bombers big man would sit out this weekend, Ratten explained it wasn't his preference.

“I think with his age, it’s a week-by week thing to make sure that he’s okay and that he’s going to get through," he said.

“He’s such an important player for us and we don’t want to take a risk with him, so if we think he’s too sore or he can’t get up, he won’t play.

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“The plans are to play him, so if everything keeps moving forward, he will. If there’s a hiccup, he won’t.”

In further injury news, utility Daniel McKenzie will miss another week after suffering a head knock against Port Adelaide a fortnight ago.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 27: Daniel McKenzie of the Saints in action during the 2019 AFL round 06 match between the St Kilda Saints and the Adelaide Crows at Marvel Stadium on April 27, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos)

McKenzie had been enjoying a fruitful period since his return to AFL level this season, but given his history with concussions, Ratten explained that the 25-year-old had been medically ruled out.

Ratten's Saints will face the Blues at Marvel Stadium on Friday night at 7:50pm AEST.