Griffen left the training track 15 minutes from the end of the session, and while coach Rodney Eade admitted he was unsure of the extent of the 24-year-old's injury, he said the star onballer should be fine to take his place in the side.
Eade said his side will enter the clash with the heavily-favoured Saints with increasing confidence after the return of important defender Dale Morris from a back injury. Morris hasn't played since fracturing a vertebra in his back against the Sydney Swans in round 21.
"There was a bit of euphoria after last week’s win and with the character shown,” Eade said on Friday at Whitten Oval.
“I think (with) each day that goes by, the guys are gaining confidence. Dale being back in the side gives the players confidence as well.
“The players that went into last week sore are a bit better again this week, so everything indicates from our point of view the level of expectation on ourselves is up.”
A final decision on Morris, who will wear a brace for the game as a precautionary measure, will be made at lunchtime on Saturday. Eade said the defender, who would play a crucial role in curtailing the influence of Saints' skipper Nick Riewoldt, was a "95 per cent" chance of taking his place.
“He’s had a fair bit of physical work on Wednesday and he didn’t feel it at all,” Eade said of Morris.
“We were told the pain would last a good three weeks, but after a week and a half, it subsided. Whether he’s just a good healer or the fracture was just a lucky one ... it’s an amazing turnaround.”
Forward Mitch Hahn trained on Friday despite being the unlucky player to make way for Morris. Eade admitted the 29-year-old was a "bit stiff" to miss out.
“He’s had an up and down year with the facial fracture and he had a slow first half last week, but a little bit better second half,” Eade said.
“He’s taken it in his stride.”
Eade said the Dogs were prepared for Saints’ defender Steven Baker to be a late inclusion after he was named as an emergency.
“He’s a quality player, he’s a good leader, a great competitor, so I think on the back of that there’s a feeling he’ll probably play.”
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