ST KILDA expects Jack Billings and Jimmy Webster to be fit in time to face Adelaide in next Sunday after the pair were ruled out of  Saturday's game against Fremantle. 

Billings hurt his ankle against Essendon last week and was off the ground for about 15 minutes but managed to play out the game.

He will miss Saturday's clash against the Dockers at Etihad Stadium, along with sick defender Webster, who has been isolated from the rest of the team.

"His movement was somewhat restricted (against the Bombers)," coach Alan Richardson said at Moorabbin on Friday.

"He gave himself every chance, trained reasonably strongly on Thursday but just wasn't able to be as free as we'd like him to be.

"Jimmy's just crook. He got through training, had to head home. He lives with Paddy (McCartin) and (Tim) Membrey, so we put him in isolation.

"He had to go and move into his girlfriend's house for the night. Apologies to his girlfriend."

The Saints travel to Adelaide Oval the following round to face the Crows on Sunday, June 5.

"The message has been that (Billings and Webster) need to rest up this weekend and train strongly," Richardson said.

"There's every chance that they will come back in but if those players that replace them perform strongly (Billings and Webster may need to bide their time)."

All three of St Kilda's emergencies – Blake Acres, Darren Minchington and Lewis Pierce – trained with Sandringham on the bye in the VFL this week. 

Billy Longer has yet to feature in the senior side in 2016, consigned to the state league after managing 18 matches last season. Tom Hickey has assumed the mantle as the primary big man. 

American Jason Holmes was the ruck emergency on hand for the Bombers and Pierce took the role this week.

Longer had a shoulder reconstruction at the end of last season that held him back in the pre-season, among other concerns. 

"He's had a little bit of injury issues. He's had a hamstring that's been a little bit tricky," Richardson said. 

"To be fair to Billy, he hasn't been at his absolute best physically.

"But he doesn't want to be playing VFL footy. He wants to be playing senior footy."

Richardson said Longer, Holmes and Pierce were all performing at a similar level. 

At Sandringham, Homes and Longer largely share ruck duties while Pierce is more of a forward/ruck.

"That's been our challenge – given the form of Hickey, to be able to back in a second ruck that can also play forward," Richardson said. 

"When you've got Membrey, (Nick) Riewoldt, (Josh) Bruce and McCartin, the balance just hasn't worked for us." 

Bruce has often played as Hickey's back-up, with Riewoldt seen frequently going third-man up in ruck contests. 

The Saints are 3-6 but have been reasonably competitive most weeks, apart from the 103-point loss to West Coast a fortnight ago. 

Richardson said his side's form, combined with a sparse injury list, has mitigated the number of changes to the team.

"We haven't had the performance where there's been two shockers in a row (where) the response is often to change the team," he said.