St Kilda veteran Farren Ray will probably miss the first two months of the AFL regular season after rupturing a hamstring tendon.

The 28-year-old suffered the injury in last Saturday’s three-point NAB Challenge loss to Brisbane.

Ray is expected to be out of action for 12-14 weeks.

The midfielder, who started his senior career at the Western Bulldogs, is three games short of the 200 milestone.

Saints football boss Jamie Cox said Ray’s operation was a success.

“He will have the appropriate rehabilitation and the injury is similar to some that we have seen in the past, so we know how to deal with it,” Cox said.

Jack Billings also suffered a hamstring strain in the Brisbane game and could miss round one of the regular season.

Shane Savage and Dylan Roberton are also nursing hamstring problems.

But Tom Hickey, Luke Dunstan and Daniel Markworth are all set to return from injury in Saturday’s pre-season game against Essendon at Morwell.