ST KILDA coach Alan Richardson is keen to avoid a last-minute call on whether captain Nick Riewoldt plays in Sunday's clash against Richmond, with Saturday shaping as D-day for the star forward.
Riewoldt, who is pushing to recover from a calf strain to play the tribute match for his late sister Madeleine, trained on Thursday and completed run-throughs away from the main group with fitness staff.
Richardson said the club would prefer to know by Saturday, when the team has a light training run, whether Riewoldt would be available so the Saints could avoid risking a late game-day change.
"Saturday will be the captain's run, which Nick runs, and we wouldn't want to leave it ... he'll need to know by then," Richardson said on Thursday.
"He did his calf earlier in the year, I think that was Paddy McCartin's first game, and he pulled out just before the game.
"So we don't want to be in that position but the reality is we'll give him every opportunity.
"The risk of playing is that you lose a player within five minutes and you're one down. Also long term, you might miss a month of footy."
Richardson said Riewoldt's availability remained a "black and white" issue and taking risks with the key forward's fitness would not be doing the right thing by him.
He backed Riewoldt and the club's experienced fitness staff to make the right decision.
"We're talking about a really experienced player who has a strong relationship with our medical staff," he said.
"They've worked with him for a long time and they know his body.
"The day itself, from the Maddie Riewoldt's Vision perspective, is more significant than Nick playing.
"If he isn't able to play he'll still be able to drive what will be a tremendous day for the club and for the family."
McCartin, who travelled to Sydney as an emergency with the Saints in round 15, will be on standby to replace Riewoldt in the team after a string of solid VFL performances.
Last year's No.1 pick hasn't played since round four after making his debut in round three, and Richardson he was in better shape now to make an impact at AFL level.
"I’ve been on record as saying he came in a little bit early in the piece," Richardson said.
"The team needed him to, given the fact Nick was out and we had a few experienced players who weren’t quite ready at that stage.
"Paddy has been in really strong form. We are keen for Paddy to get another opportunity so he would be the one that would come in."
Richardson said young defender Hugh Goddard was also in the mix to make his debut this week after impressing with Sandringham at the weekend.
Jack Billings, meanwhile, faces a long wait to return from a shin injury, with the club listing him as a five to six week proposition.
Richardson the Saints were still keen to give the 19-year-old more game time this year.
