DAN HANNEBERY won't play in St Kilda's must-win clash against Brisbane with coach Brett Ratten revealing the club was likely to rest him even before his latest injury.

The luckless midfielder suffered an ankle injury in the Saints' heavy loss to Geelong last round, which was only his second match of the season due to persistent calf problems.

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Ratten has ruled Hannebery out of Friday night's Marvel Stadium clash but said it was already on the cards due to the six-day turnaround.

"He won't get up, we're going to manage Dan," Ratten said ahead of training at Moorabbin on Thursday.

"It was a conversation that we had even before last weekend's game around a six-day turnaround for a player that hasn't played a lot of footy and the risk of playing him.

"We were having that conversation and then with the ankle, the risk probably becomes greater and allowing Dan to get through this weekend and be ready for the following week will be really important. 

"So we'll manage him and he'll have the weekend off."

Ratten said the 31-year-old had been able to complete some training this week, with the injury not as serious as initially feared.

But he didn't think it was worth the risk despite the high stakes on the game, with the ninth-placed Saints needing victory to keep alive their finals hopes.

"With the ankle, it's an easy one to manage," Ratten said.

"We have to look after Dan as well.

"The game is super important for us - we can't shy away from that so picking our best team but we've got to make sure that everyone can get through as well, that's important.

"We've got to make sure we've got 22 fit men to run out the game."

The Saints are two points behind eighth-placed Richmond while the Lions sit fifth and are vying with Melbourne, Sydney and Fremantle to lock down a top-four berth.

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Ratten said the team "licked their wounds" after the 45-point loss to the Cats and was ready for its big challenge ahead.

He said a fast start was important, with the Lions able to do plenty of early damage.

"Against Richmond I think they kicked seven (goals) to one so they can start really fast and put a gap between the opposition and then the opposition has to take more risks, which then creates opportunities for Brisbane to score," he said.

"For us it'll be about the start, getting the game on our terms, and it'll be pretty important in the result."