ST KILDA captain Nick Riewoldt is scheduled to start pre-season on time despite a routine knee clean out at the end of the season.

The 30-year-old was one of a handful of Saints to go under the knife in September, in his case for another operation on a degenerative left knee.

In recent years, Riewoldt has resorted to having orthokine treatment on the knee, which involves spinning your own blood and having it injected it back into the joint.

He is currently holidaying in the United States with his wife following the operation which he has had done for the past few seasons.

Midfielder Nick Dal Santo, whose future remains up in the air, with North Melbourne keen to secure his services, had surgery on his groin a month ago.

He is also expected to start pre-season on time, which begins on November 18.

Sean Dempster (knee), James Gwilt (knee) and Adam Schneider (thumb) also recently went under the knife to correct minor ailments.

Gwilt had issues with his left knee – the one he had reconstructed in 2011 - throughout the 2013 season and was kept to 13 games.

Tom Simpkin (lower leg), Arryn Siposs (shoulder) and Rhys Stanley (collarbone) had season-ending surgery in early August and will also be ready for their pre-season start.

Terry Milera (ankle) and Spencer White (wrist) didn't finish the season after sustaining injuries in rounds 17 and 18 in the VFL but will be set to go in November.

Sam Fisher, who also has a question mark over his name with Greater Western Sydney reportedly interested, is also expected to be ready for summer training after a second operation on his degenerative toe joint in June.

Saints seek stability in rough off-season

Highly-touted youngster Daniel Markworth is expected to hit pre-season at full throttle after recovering from a knee reconstruction in December last year.

The Saints will return to Colorado in the United States for an altitude training camp this pre-season, with their departure scheduled for November 26.

They will be away for 16 days and can expect a harder program than they faced last year.

Riewoldt said it was an experience where the players could work on the club's culture and determine what they wanted to stand for as a team.

"As a young group, it's exactly what we need," the skipper told the club's website.

"Last year really set the foundation.

"I think a few guys are going to get a bit of a rude shock this year. The level of training is going to go up and it's probably going to be about 20 degrees (Fahrenheit) colder than it was last year.

"The importance of getting away as a group and what that does for morale and really trying to instill a sense of team - it's just vital."