Rowan Marshall and Dougal Howard after the round nine match between Gold Coast and St Kilda at TIO Stadium, May 9, 2026. Picture: AFL Photos

ROWAN Marshall is fit to play this week, but St Kilda's casualty ward includes another big man in Dougal Howard as it prepares to take on a revitalised Hawthorn.

Veteran ruck Marshall limped off during in the Saints' 30-point loss to Fremantle last round, landing awkwardly with just minutes remaining in the Perth clash.

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There were fears the 30-year-old could be sidelined, joining Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Jack Higgins, Max King and Mitch Owens on the injury list.

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said Marshall would be available for the Marvel Stadium match on Thursday night, but defender Howard will miss after suffering a calf injury against the Dockers.

Sharpshooter Higgins didn't make the trip west after his knee blew up, requiring minor surgery, and could also miss their last interstate match of the season, against Sydney.

Jack Higgins during the round 10 match between St Kilda and Richmond at Marvel Stadium, May 17, 2026. Picture: AFL Photos

"He (Marshall) couldn't believe the noise around it, it was just a shin, and Dougal Howard, he's out with a calf and is in rehab as we speak." Lyon said.

"Jack Higgins' knee ... it blew up a little bit post (surgery) that they just thought it was a little bit of ITB, but it turned out to be more than that, so hopefully he gets back in a week or two.

"We've got some challenges, we don't think we really get any back, I think Liam Ryan's pushing ... the cavalry will be available going into the Sydney game."

St Kilda, sitting 11th, led by a point early in the final quarter and threatened a boilover against ladder leaders Fremantle, who posted a club-record 10th-straight win.

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Lyon said his players needed to improve their work around the contest to take a big scalp such as the fourth-placed Hawks, who bounced back from successive losses to down Adelaide in Launceston last round.

"We need to improve our footy, we did a lot of things right, but we thought we basically got beaten in the contest more than we'd like," Lyon said.

"We hit the front and then there was just contest moments, there was a couple of big moments, contest swings and aerially we were disappointed that they got 17 contested marks or whatever.

"There were some things in our control we could have done better ... so a little bit agitated and frustrated, not in a bad way.

"But our season's alive, I'm confident we've got growth in us."