If he lays eight tackles against the Crows, Hayes will break former Sydney Swan Jude Bolton's all-time career record.
Hayes has racked up 1483 tackles in 296 matches, compared to Bolton's 1490 in 325 games.
He averages a tick over five tackles a match, and coach Alan Richardson says it is all about desire.
"Lenny is such a good tackler primarily because he wants to tackle," Richardson told the club website.
"He has a really good appetite for the hard stuff and to get after the opposition when they have the footy.
"Tackling will not work unless you have the want to get after the opposition, and he has that in abundance."
Former St Kilda captain and now forward line coach Aaron Hamill said Hayes' upbringing in rugby league territory also played a part.
"Having grown up in New South Wales in a rugby dominated place, you play a lot of rugby and a lot of touch footy," Hamill said.
"You see it with his sidestep and you see it with his tackling.
"I hope he breaks the record. He will be in the midfield a lot, I would have thought, so it's on the cards."
Adam Schneider has played with and against both Hayes and Bolton.
"They are two of the hardest blokes that I've played with and against," he said.
"I used to hate training with Jude because he trained how he played, and the same applies to Lenny. You have to be careful when you're out there with him.
"Their commitment to hard work was probably the best I've ever seen."
Hayes has laid eight or more tackles in a match 55 times, with a personal best of 14 against Geelong in round 13, 2010, and against Collingwood in the Grand Final replay later that year.
This season he's ranked 11th in the league and first at St Kilda for tackles, averaging 6.2 per match.
Most career tackles
Jude Bolton 1490 (325 games) at 4.58 per match
Lenny Hayes 1483 (296 games) at 5.01 per match
Simon Black 1283 (322 games) at 3.98 per match
Brett Kirk 1278 (241 games) at 5.30 per match
Tony Liberatore 1225 (279 games) at 4.39 per match
