St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt is among five players set to return from injury for their AFL clash with Brisbane on Sunday.
The Saints captain was knocked out in a sickening collision with Crows defender Brodie Smith in round seven, forcing him out of Saturday’s loss to West Coast.
However the tall forward was back training on Tuesday with the club confident he would be available for the Gabba match.
“The club medicos are really happy with where Nick has progressed to now”, St Kilda physiotherapist Andrew Wallis told the club website.
“He has ticked every box. We obviously have training today and on Thursday and he has to pass that to be available for selection.”
The Saints are also hopeful that Jarryn Geary, Luke Delaney, Jimmy Webster and Jack Lonie will face the Lions, who lost to Essendon last round.
Webster and Lonie suffered concussion while defenders Geary and Delaney had thigh and hip injuries, respectively.
Veteran defender Sam Gilbert (quad) will return through St Kilda’s VFL team Sandringham on Sunday.
Sam Fisher (hamstring) is expected to be unavailable until after the round 12 bye, while Daniel Markworth and Arryn Siposs have re-joined full training following shoulder reconstructions.