Justin Koschitzke's one-match suspension has paved the way for controversial former West Coast ruckman Michael Gardiner to take on his former club for the first time this weekend.
Gardiner, whose 129 game career at West Coast ended in 2006 because of a combination of continual injuries and a litany of off-field incidents including (along with Ben Cousins) being linked to gangland figures in Perth, is in strong contention to take on the Eagles in Perth this Saturday as the Saints look for a replacement for the versatile Koschitzke.
The 29-year-old - who had just six touches in the Eagles' losing 2005 grand final side and then missed the 2006 premiership win - missed all of his first season with St Kilda last year due to injury and has managed just eight games this season.
But in his last appearance in Round 12 against Sydney, and the Swans' highly respected ruck duo of Peter Everitt and Darren Jolly, Gardiner looked in good touch until going down with a hamstring injury.
However after playing the last two games in the VFL, Saints' coach Ross Lyon said on Tuesday that Gardiner - an All-Australian in 2003 - was definitely in contention to come in for what is sure to be a much scrutinised first appearance against his former club.
"He is going well," Lyon said of Gardiner.
"I don't know if he (Gardiner) is just keen to play against the Eagles, I think he is just keen to play AFL football again."
"His last game against Sydney was very good against quality ruckmen and he was starting to emerge and we were seeing the talent he possesses so we are keen to get that back."
Given that Koschitzke - who accepted a one-match ban for striking on Tuesday morning - plays both in the ruck and up forward, Lyon said the Saints had to decide whether to replace him with a genuine ruckman like Gardiner or Michael Rix or a forward like youngster Jarryd Allen.
"Those few guys are in the mix (to replace Koschitzke) and Jarryn Geary was best on the ground in the VFL last week so he is in the mix as well."
"He (Gardiner) has been training for a month so he is reasonably well conditioned and he is a good athlete but Michael Rix has been fiercely competitive and we know he has got a huge tank and can run and he has played on (West Coast's star ruckman Dean) Cox before so we have got some decision to make."
Lyon denied Gardiner was playing for his long-term future saying his position was no different to any other player on the Saints' list at this time of the season.
But while Gardiner could take on his old club for the first time this week, it appears increasingly likely that another former Eagles' star now at the Saints in spearhead Fraser Gehrig has played his last game.
The 32-year-old, 260 game veteran - who has not played since Round 8 as he battles chronic arthritis in his hands - will remain on the Saints' long-term injury list.
And while Lyon has not ruled out the possibility of Gehrig playing again this season, he admitted 'it hasn't been a pressing issue' to take the dual Coleman Medalist off the long-term injury list.
"It is eight weeks minimum (that a player has to be on the long-term injury list) but you can keep them on there as long as needs be," Lyon said of Gehrig.
"His eight weeks may be up but he is not ready to come off (the long-term injury list) at this point."