FOUR-TIME St Kilda best and fairest Jack Steven wants to play in round one and has medical approval after his mental health battle, needing only to prove his fitness to be named for the season opener.

The news isn't so good for fellow midfielder Dan Hannebery, who is struggling with a persistent hamstring issue and faces a return through the VFL when he is declared fit.

Luckless key forward Paddy McCartin faces more tests after suffering his eighth concussion since 2014 but Saints coach Alan Richardson said retirement hadn't been discussed.

Steven took a 10-day break from the club from late February but has been back training.

"Jacko's in a really good space, which is brilliant," Richardson said.

The 28-year-old's work at training on Tuesday and Thursday will help St Kilda's match committee decide whether he lines up against Gold Coast on Sunday at Marvel Stadium.

FULL FIXTURE Every round, every game

"He's going well. He's still got a couple of boxes he needs to tick. He needs to train strongly and make sure that he pulls up well," Richardson said.

"Right now, it's probably line-ball."

Hannebery sported calf bandaging while running some laps alongside defender Jimmy Webster before both went inside.

"Whenever we up the load and the intensity to as close as we can get it on the training track to game day, he's not quite getting there. He's just been getting a little bit sore, so that could take a while," Richardson said.

"We were hopeful that he might be ready to play footy, whether it's AFL or VFL, in round two. I reckon that's probably a bit unlikely now."

WHO MAKES FINALS? Do the 2019 Ladder Predictor

His first game since crossing over from Sydney will likely be through Sandringham.

"Because someone's had a lack of load for so long now, talking a couple of years, because of injury and because he's such a warrior, he's put himself out there when he probably hasn't been physically capable of doing the work, he's struggled to back it up (at training)," Richardson said. 

"I reckon that's probably going to take a while, so if that's a week or two or even longer in the VFL, that's fine."

McCartin was at the club on Tuesday morning but faces more tests.

"He's certainly getting much, much better but he's just not quite right in terms of being able to get out. He's back at the footy club now so he's getting close but we'll be guided by the doctors," Richardson said.

FULL INJURY LIST Who's racing the clock for round one?

His time on the sidelines is indefinite but Richardson said retirement hadn't been discussed for the first overall draftee in 2014.

"It's not that serious (as considering retirement), although it's serious. Those sorts of conversations haven't been had," Richardson said.

"It's just 'Let's see how Paddy pulls up, how does he go when he starts training with the group'.

"That's probably a little bit different to where it's been before but we're confident that Paddy will be right. It might take a little bit longer. We might have to, as a club, be a little bit more patient, but we just get guided by the experts and the doctors."

Speedy forward Dean Kent will face the Suns while rookie backman Callum Wilkie is in the mix as a replacement for Dylan Roberton, whose heart issue has ruled him out of 2019.

Jonathon Marsh and Sam Rowe were recruited as replacements via the pre-season supplemental selection period rule but aren't ready yet for the senior side.

"(Rowe's) got some work to do. We don't think it'll take that long, when you've got such a strong training history, as Rowey has. We think a mini pre-season of a couple of weeks should have him pretty close to the mark," Richardson said.

"Marsh will be the same I reckon. Richmond VFL is a step up from Doncaster East (where Rowe had been training). He's a chance to be ready to go. It's (about) understanding our system."

Meanwhile, wingman Jack Billings, 23, has been announced as Roberton's replacement in St Kilda's leadership group.