EXPERIENCED St Kilda defender Sam Gilbert will miss up to four weeks after surgery on his right hand on Saturday morning.

Gilbert, 30, had his hand stomped on in the final term of the Saints' 61-point loss to Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

He has played 195 matches in his career and his contract expires at the end of the season.

The Saints are set to regain backman Jimmy Webster for next week's clash against Sydney at the SCG after he served his two-match ban for eye-gouging Fremantle midfielder Nick Suban. 

St Kilda's record is 9-7 after losing to the Bombers and its percentage is 99.4.