Lenny Hayes joins teammates for pre-season training. Picture: Chris Eastman Source: Herald Sun
KEY St Kilda stars Nick Riewoldt and Lenny Hayes will miss the Saints' pre-season clash against Sydney on Sunday.
The pair also skipped round one of the pre-season competition, meaning it's likely they will start the season proper with just two matches under their belt.
St Kilda coach Scott Watters says the two veterans will be available for the final two rounds of the pre-season, and is upbeat they will be match fit in time for Round 1.
"Nick's going extremely well ... generally those players are tracking well and on course for where we want them to be," Watters said.
"They'll potentially play (rounds) three and four (of the pre-season)."
Watters said St Kilda was more focused on its premiership-season team the deeper the club moved into the warm-up competition.
"I think it would be fair to say that most clubs in NAB (Cup rounds) one and two still have a strong development focus," Watters said.
"They still want to expose younger players and some players who are potentially on the fringe trying to challenge for selection.
"But as you move through the NAB campaign by the time you get to three and four you're getting a lot closer to the side you want on the park for Round 1."
He said St Kilda would still leave the bulk of their experienced players out of the line-up for this Sunday.
"We'll still have a number of younger players out there this weekend.
"We're able to bring back in Sean Dempster, Sam Fisher and Rhys Stanley - they will come in for modified game time.
"But there are probably eight or nine players that we would consider for our best side who won't play this week."
Watters welcomed the news Saints midfielder Jack Steven has signed a two-year contract extension, ensuring he will remain with the club until at least the end of 2015.
"Jack is a key component of our midfield this year ... (he) is ready for greater responsibility and challenges," Watters said of the 22-year-old.
And he stood by the Saints' decision to sack defender Jason Gram last year due to a series of off-field indiscretions.
Gram told the Herald Sun exclusively today he did not deserve to be fired and plans to try to return to the AFL.
But it won't be back at St Kilda, with Watters saying he would not be "a good fit" in the side now.
Watters said he would prefer that Gram was still playing for the club, but his actions made it impossible for them to continue to support him.
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