St Kilda forward is tipped to be available for selection in Round 4, according to coach Ross Lyon.
King hasn't been sighted since Round 16 in 2024, following problematic knee and soft-tissue injuries, with the most recent calf setback pushing his return date.
"It's a two-week calf," Lyon said.
"He will play football this year … it's not unexpected he would have a soft tissue, it's a slight calf."
The Saints were hopeful that the gun forward would put his hand up for selection in the primetime Opening Round slot against Collingwood on March 8.
But the date has been pushed back now, as the club looks to build him back up.
"He was aiming for round zero or one, we think it's round four," Lyon told AFL Media.
"And then from there we have a decision: is it VFL or AFL because he has missed a lot of work. We can set him up to succeed."
The Saints are set to unveil a host of new faces in its first hit-out against opposition, taking on Gold Coast on Thursday at People First Stadium.
Tom De Koning, Jack Silvagni, Liam Ryan and Sam Flanders have all been named.
St Kilda will then face Essendon at Mars Stadium on February 28 before the Pies clash a week later.
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