St Kilda has suffered a major blow ahead of Sunday's daunting qualifying final showdown against flag favourites Geelong at the MCG after influential midfielder Luke Ball was ruled out with a recurrence of his injured hamstring.
Ball - one of the Saints' best ball winners - has missed the past four matches but the club had hoped to regain him for the start of the finals until he re-injured himself on the weekend.
However St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says he hasn't given up hope of Ball playing some part of the finals - with the Saints guaranteed to still be alive next week, even if they lose to the all-conquering Cats, after snaring the double chance with their massive last round win over Essendon.
"He has had a hiccup in his rehab so he is ruled out for this week and we will re-start him, aiming to get him up for the week after," Lyon said on Tuesday.
"Luke is an important player, a valued leader, a best and fairest winner and we would love to have him playing but clearly he is not there."
However Lyon is confident the Saints can overcome Ball - citing the fact the club has won the last three matches, including Sunday's 108 point demolition of Essendon, without their former skipper.
"Without him in the previous few weeks we have been able to perform at a level where we have been competitive and that is the aim on Sunday."
Lyon says he is not daunted by the prospect of taking on the Cats - who have won a record 40 of their past 42 matches and became only the second team after Essendon in 2000 to win 21 of 22 matches in a home and away season.
The Cats also finished a massive eight games ahead of the fourth-placed Saints - the biggest gap ever between first and fourth on the ladder at the end of a home and away season since the 22 round season began in 1970.
"(But) it (the home and away season) counts for nothing now," Lyon said.
"The challenge of AFL footy is going out and re-producing it against quality opposition on a big stage, under extreme pressure, and that is the challenge that lies ahead of us."
"We are an AFL team that has won eight out of ten and we are coming off a good win last week (and) while we are clearly the underdogs, I am not going to beat that up or push that down."
"But what I will say about Geelong is they are clearly the benchmark team in the competition but we are thrilled we have earned the (top four) spot for the right to challenge them."