LUCKLESS St Kilda midfielder Nathan Freeman has "the utmost confidence" his troublesome hamstrings will hold up as he presses his case for senior selection.

Freeman had right hamstring surgery in February, but his rehab has gone as planned and he notched up 31 disposals in Sandringham's 64-point loss to Box Hill last Saturday.

Having been through the process of healing his body on multiple occasions means the 22-year-old believes he knows how to get himself right.

"(With) the sum of all the rehabs that I've done, mentally I know what works now and physically I know what works. We've got the utmost confidence in my body and my skills," Freeman told reporters at RSEA Park on Monday morning.

"I've just got so much confidence in myself now."

That match against the Hawks was his first since July last season when a right ankle syndesmosis injury ended his campaign as he pushed to make his senior debut.

BROWNLOW PREDICTOR Who's leading the race after R7?

He was drafted by Collingwood at No.10 in 2013 before being traded at the end of 2015 for a second-round selection the following year, along with a swap of picks in the 60s, but is yet to play an AFL game.

"It was obviously a good feeling, not playing for so long and getting through unscathed and playing a full game," Freeman said.

"Just a credit to the coaches and fitness staff for getting me into the shape that I am and giving me the confidence to run out games now. I don't really think about it too much any more."

Freeman sees himself in a battle with numerous teammates trying to make the AFL side.

"I'm like any other player now, we're sort of putting pressure (for) spots on the AFL boys. That's all we can do, is keep playing well," Freeman said.

However, St Kilda football manager Simon Lethlean told Melbourne radio station SEN the former Magpie would stay in the VFL for a little while yet.

"Nathan Freeman got back last week, which was great for him, but he'd be a few weeks away still," Lethlean said.

Blake Acres is expected to return from groin soreness against Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Saturday night while impressive runner Ed Phillips and backman Bailey Rice performed well for the Zebras.

Jack Sinclair responded to being dropped with 30 disposals.

"The boys didn't have a great game on the weekend against Box Hill but a few players stood out. Phillips and Rice were probably two of the better ones, so we'll take a look," Lethlean said.

"There's Acres as well, who's waiting to probably come back in.

"Sinclair went back and got 30-odd possessions, so there's some players that we know can play at the level and we might just need some of their burst and athleticism over there in Perth on that big deck."