ST KILDA ruckman Billy Longer ran laps at training on Thursday as he recovers from a hamstring injury that will see him miss the start of the season.

Prized recruit Dan Hannebery also completed laps while sporting a compression bandage on his left calf, with the Saints confident that issue is very minor.

Hannebery, who turns 28 on Sunday, is battling hamstring 'awareness' and is no certainty for the club's round one clash with Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, March 24.

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"What we've identified is he's probably a little bit underdone, so we're doing some speed work with him now. He will go into some agility and one-on-one skills. He will join back in the main group soon," head physio Andrew Wallis told saints.com.au.

Wallis detailed the timeline for exciting draftee Max King.

"He's due to go back into training with the main group in two weeks, but the way we normally do it is to deal with these functionally, so he'll have a month of training with the main group with no contact," Wallis said.

"He'll then have a full month at least with full contact, so that's 10 weeks from now."

Unheralded defender Dan McKenzie did sprint work as he recovers from a bruised heel and is hopeful of taking part in Saturday's intraclub at RSEA Park.

Longer's likely absence against the Suns puts Lewis Pierce in pole position to take the ruck spot.

"(Longer's) most likely to play in round two, so he will miss the JLT series," Wallis said.

Exciting forward Ben Long has shaken off bone irritation in a foot and joined in ball work, as did defender Logan Austin, who has overcome his left shoulder injury.

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Austin's presence will likely be needed against Gold Coast with Jake Carlisle battling a back problem and Nathan Brown suspended for the opening round.

The intraclub scratch match on Saturday begins at 10.30am AEDT and will consist of 22-minute quarters, with drinks breaks 12 minutes into each term.

Regular forward and ruck Rowan Marshall spent time training down back, a move the Saints might go to against the Suns considering their thin tall defensive stocks.

Bailey Rice continued training in attack, a departure from his regular spot at the other end of the ground.

Rookie Doulton Langlands was training with the main group on his return from hamstring surgery.