After speculation this week Riewoldt may make an earlier than expected return to the Saints line-up, Lyon conceded he would give the 27 year-old another week on the sidelines after he had been given the all-clear to make his return.
“It’s out of my hands - it’s really in the hands of the (conditioning team). When they stamp him and approve him, which hasn’t been done, I say then give him another week,” Lyon said.
“He was really keen last week but he has to jump all the hurdles and then be ticked off.
It’s an exciting time for Nick and the club. We’re going to be rapt to have him back and I’m sure he will have an impact.”
With the Saints travelling to the Gabba next week to take on the Brisbane Lions, Lyon said the club had no concerns about the much-criticised playing surface if Riewoldt is to return to the senior fold.
“The centre square pitch - they water it four hours out and soften it so they are taking every precaution not only for visiting teams but their own team,” he said.
“I think it has taken some of that risk away.”
Lyon conceded his side failed to land the killer blow against the gallant Demons on Sunday night, after his side had threatened to blow the game wide open before eventually running out with a 35-point win.
“I just felt every time we looked like really going away with it they would have a good passage of play or we would turn it over,” the St Kilda coach said.
“I thought we mucked around with our hands - I thought we had some really slick passages and corridor focus and then we had some horrible skill execution.
“It was always that nagging distance - I never felt comfortable although it looked like we were always in control.”
Lyon said his side would be ready to face the Lions next week and expected both Justin Koschitzke - a late withdrawal with a right ankle injury - and Jason Gram to put their hands up for selection.
“You go to the six-day break to play Brisbane who obviously will be fired up and keen to do well,” he said.
“We feel like we are one of the hunted, there is no doubt about that we are a reasonable scalp over the last year and a half so I don’t think we have any easy games.”
