Saints coach Ross Lyon said Hudghton was set to return from a calf injury that has kept him sidelined for the first seven weeks of the season.
"He trained yesterday and he will play this week in the VFL. We are rapt to have Max back and hopefully things will go well for him from there," Lyon said.
"He is going to need at least two (games in the VFL) you would think. We will sit down as a match committee and review his form and his fitness from there. He is highly respected and we are keen to get Max in at the right time."
Maguire has spent all year in the VFL and booted five goals for the Zebras last week. He has played as a defender for most of his 99-game AFL career but Lyon said he would entertain the possibility of using him as a goal-kicker when he makes his return to St Kilda's side.
"If we can continue to develop Matt in that way it is good for him and good for the club. It also freshens him up mentally where he doesn't have to follow someone around down back," Lyon said.
"He can take the game on, which he was rapt about, and it is good we are working together to try and get him back."
Lyon was full of praise for this week's opponent Essendon, describing its form so far as 'red hot'.
"If you take out percentage, they are equal third. They are playing very good football. They are very quick. You can talk about youth but they have got enough there to do some damage," he said.
Much of the media talk about St Kilda this week has centred on the clash with fellow undefeated side Geelong in round 14, but Lyon said he had not given the game any thought as he prepares for the Bombers.
"To be honest I'm here to talk about this week. Round 14 is not even on the radar for me. I'm here to talk about Essendon, and as an AFL coach if you look beyond that you fall into some pretty deep holes pretty quickly."
Lyon admitted playing against Collingwood on Monday night was a big change to the weekly routine but said he was a fan of playing in the unusual timeslot.
"I'm a fan of being exposed to 650,000 viewers and 50,000 at the game. I'm a fan of the result. If we can keep that going we'll be pretty happy as a club."
