ST KILDA coach Alan Richardson will not encourage captain Nick Riewoldt to change his courageous ways as the skipper prepares to return from another bout of concussion. 

Riewoldt, who has been given the green light to return by a neurologist and the Saints' doctor this week, was advised by champion forward Jonathan Brown to consider his playing future after a sickening collision with Adelaide's Brodie Smith left him concussed in round seven.

The star forward trained on Thursday and coach Alan Richardson said Riewoldt had ticked every box in his recovery ahead of the Saints' trip to the Gabba. 

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Richardson said he didn't expect the champion forward to return with a new approach after 285 games.

"I think that's pretty hard to change the way someone plays … he goes back with the flight of the ball with real commitment," Richardson said on Thursday. 

"I'm never going to try and curb the way he plays. That's been ingrained for a long time now.

"He's an aggressive player and he plays hard."

St Kilda expects to be boosted by the return of tall defender Luke Delaney (hip) for Saturday's clash against the Lions, with Sam Fisher (hamstring) ruled out.

Small forward Jack Lonie and defender Jimmy Webster, who have each suffered concussion in the past two weeks, are also expected to be available alongside defender Jarryn Geary (corked thigh).

Richardson said more changes were possible after the Saints conceded 12 goals to six in the second half against West Coast in round eight.   

"While West Coast are second on the ladder and there's no doubt they're playing some good footy, we were pretty disappointed by the time it was done and dusted," the coach said.

"We showed in the second term that if we play really strong, aggressive footy we can match it with most teams, so we were disappointed for other periods of the game.

"If you, as an individual, don't play four quarters of strong footy then you put your position in jeopardy." 

Richardson said the Saints would be wary of a "strong" Brisbane Lions midfield that won the clearances 41-36 against Essendon last Sunday, led by stars Dayne Beams (eight) and Tom Rockliff (five). 

"They've got a fantastic midfield, their ruck and their onball brigade is firing," he said.