ST KILDA won't blood new players for the sake of it this season, with coach Alan Richardson committed to making his new recruits earn their spots.
First-year pair Hugh Goddard and Daniel McKenzie are pushing for selection after strong VFL performances, while three-game midfielder Blake Acres is firmly in the mix.
With captain Nick Riewoldt (calf), Leigh Montagna (knee) and Mav Weller (calf) all in line to return from injury this week however, the young trio may be forced to knock the door down with consistent form at Sandringham.
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"We're not really keen on just blooding youngsters, we'll play them when they're ready," Richardson said on Thursday.
"[They'll play] if their form is strong, if there's a role for them, or if their form has surpassed that of someone in the team.
"Some of the names mentioned earlier have given themselves an opportunity to come in.
"There has been form strong enough at the lower level with young players to suggest they're ready to go."
Richardson said the Saints would know immediately after Thursday's session if Riewoldt and Weller had done enough to return.
Montagna, however, has been pulling up sore after training and may need to be assessed closer to Sunday's clash against Essendon.
Riewoldt's return would likely see No.1 draft pick Paddy McCartin sent back to the VFL, with Richardson conceding recently that the young key forward was not yet ready for the top level.
Richardson said the captain's first game back since round two would also spell trouble for ruckman Tom Hickey, who was used forward in the VFL in an effort to explore how a two-pronged attack could work with in-form big man Billy Longer.
"Billy's improved each week," the coach said.
"(But) if they're both in good form relative to the roles we ask them to play then we'd be really keen to have a look at that.
"It makes it a little bit more difficult when the skipper is back. Given Josh Bruce has been pretty strong for us.
"But that's their challenge. They've got to make sure they're knocking the door down, whether they're in the team or in the VFL, to say, 'I want that spot and I want to play'."
With a 1-3 record after the first month and two second-half fadeouts in recent weeks, Richardson said consistency remained the Saints' biggest issue.
Their ability to stay in games early, however, was a positive after being blown away in the first half a number of times last year.
"One of our significant focuses on the back of last year and our need to grow was to make sure we gave ourselves an opportunity to be in the game and we've done that," Richardson said.
"We were out of the game often at quarter-time and certainly half-time last year I reckon for 80 per cent of the time.
"While there has been improvement, it certainly hasn't improved enough for us to potentially get another result.
"From my point of view, the team is improving and the team is much more consistent with our physicality and our effort."
