ST KILDA has been dealt a serious injury blow, with veteran midfielder Farren Ray expected to miss the first two months of the season due to a ruptured tendon in his right hamstring.

The 197-gamer suffered the injury during Saturday’s three-point NAB Challenge loss to the Brisbane Lions.

He is expected to be sidelined for 12-14 weeks, ruling him out until about round eight.

“After a successful operation, Farren is resting and we are confident he will make a full recovery,” general manager of football performance Jamie Cox told the club's website.

“He will have the appropriate rehabilitation and the injury is similar to some that we have seen in the past so we know how to deal with it.”

The news follows a hamstring strain sustained by Jack Billings against the Lions, which has the young gun racing the clock to be fit for round one against Greater Western Sydney at Etihad Stadium.

Shane Savage (hamstring strain) and Dylan Roberton (hamstring soreness) are also set to miss pre-season matches, but both are expected to be available to face the Giants.

In other injury updates, emerging half-back Jimmy Webster remains six weeks away with a ruptured tendon in his finger, while left-footed utility Brodie Murdoch has been listed as indefinite as he recovers from lower back discomfort.

However, head physiotherapist Andrew Wallis hopes 21-year-old Murdoch will be fit soon. 

“We’ve listed him as indefinite honestly because we don’t know when he will be back, but we’d like to think his rehab is going smoothly,” Wallis said. 

In better news, ruckman Tom Hickey (knee), Luke Dunstan (ankle) and Daniel Markworth (shoulder) will be available for selection to face Essendon in Morwell this Saturday.

Hickey hasn't played since round 17 last year, but second-year midfielder Dunstan and Markworth impressed in a recent intra-club match.

Meanwhile, tall backman Tom Simpkin is expected to be fit for the Saints' third NAB Challenge game against Hawthorn after strong rehabilitation from an ITB release (an operation that lengthens the strong fibrous band that runs down the outside of the leg and knee).