ST KILDA forward Josh Bruce is set to return from a back injury through the VFL on Sunday. 

If Bruce makes his way through training this week, the left-footer is expected to play managed minutes in Sandringham's clash with Frankston at Trevor Barker Oval.

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St Kilda has not won in its past 20 games without Bruce, a record stretching back to when it beat Greater Western Sydney in round two, 2014.

Bruce, who turns 26 on Friday, has not played since the Saints' round three loss to Adelaide.

He was sidelined at training the following Thursday when he bone stress in his lower back flared up. 

The former Giant had carried back soreness in the lead-up to the injury and St Kilda coach Alan Richardson was asked at the time whether there had been major concern about Bruce playing through that.

"You can imagine all those questions get asked, given his form over the last couple of weeks wasn't great," Richardson said.

"My understanding was he'd been a little bit stiff but was really comfortable that he was physically right to go. It clearly went to another level on Thursday (at training)."

Bruce has played 91 matches in his career and booted 135 goals, with four of those coming this season.

His best year came in 2015, when he booted 50 goals from 22 games, including four bags of five or more goals.