THIS time 12 months ago the rumour connecting Ben Cousins and St Kilda started to grow legs.

The Saints seemed to be one of few parties interested in the former Eagle until the St Kilda board voted against recruiting him.

History shows Cousins was eventually taken by Richmond and this week will line up against the team that decided he was too big a risk.

Saints midfielder Lenny Hayes said he fully expected the Brownlow medallist to be out to prove the Saints wrong this week when he lines up against the ladder-leaders on Sunday.

“We expect nothing less from Cousins. We know he is a real professional, he is a real hard runner and he has been getting back to some of his best form. I’m sure he’s looking forward to the game as well,” Hayes said.

Cousins’ former teammate Saint Michael Gardiner will this week play his 150th AFL match, a feat that many believed he would never reach after battles with injury and discipline over the last few years.

“It is a big milestone for him. He’s been great for us and he is getting back to some of his best form. He has been a real plus for us,” Hayes said of the ruckman.

Gardiner only had a light session at Wednesday’s training session, running laps with fellow veteran Max Hudghton.

Steven Baker trained and did not appear to show any visible signs of the incident he was involved in at a Colac hotel over the mid-season break.

Luke Ball missed training because he was sitting a university exam, while Sam Fisher was also absent.

Leigh Fisher and David Armitage were both injured in the VFL over the weekend and are expected to miss two weeks. Armitage trained with the main group with a taped left shoulder, while Fisher was confined to the exercise bike after sustaining a hamstring injury.

The pair join Xavier Clarke and Jarryd Allen on the sidelines in what has been a remarkably good run with injuries for the Saints this year.

Hayes said having players on the park was a crucial reason for St Kilda’s undefeated first half of the season.

“I think it does [play a part]. Also it is good management and a little bit of luck. Some injuries you just can’t help and it seems over the last four or five years we’ve copped a lot,” Hayes said.

“This year we’re having a pretty good run and if you look at any of the sides who have had really good seasons over the last couple of years they haven’t had a lot of injuries.”