DURABLE St Kilda midfielder Jack Newnes hopes to be available for the Saints' first JLT Community Series game in three weeks after undergoing knee surgery before Christmas.

A club spokesperson said it was just a clean-out and that Newnes is back in full training, but the 24-year-old expects to sit out of next week's AFLX competition.

"I got an arthroscope in my knee so I'll probably miss that (AFLX) and hopefully be ready for the first JLT game," Newnes told RSN radio on Wednesday.

St Kilda will face Carlton at Ikon Park on Wednesday, February 28.

A consistent footballer who has finished in the top eight of the club’s best and fairest in three of the past four years, Newnes has lined up in 88 consecutive games – ranked sixth among current players.

"I've had a bit of a hampered pre-season," Newnes said.

"I had a little scope in my knee so that's probably the first time I've been in rehab for about three or four years, so it's a bit of a different looking pre-season for myself."

Newnes was again named in St Kilda’s leadership group for this season, as he has been every year since 2015.