Ross Lyon says key forward Tim Membrey is no guarantee to slot straight back into St Kilda's starting side as the AFL club's injury woes begin to ease.
Membrey (knee) has been forced to look on as the undermanned Saints have shocked the competition over the opening month of the season, winning the first four games of Lyon's second stint as coach.
The 153-game veteran has had company on the sidelines, with Max King, Jack Steele, Jack Billings, Zak Jones and Jimmy Webster among the key names on a league-worst injury list.
Membrey is a chance to play against Collingwood at Adelaide Oval on Sunday and skipper Steele could feature against Carlton in round six, leaving Lyon with some tough selection calls to make.
Mitch Owens, Mattaes Phillipou and Anthony Caminiti have thrived in attack in the absence of key talls Membrey and King.
Owens was instrumental in St Kilda's last-start win over Gold Coast, winning the league's Rising Star nomination, while Phillipou and Caminiti have each kicked five goals in four games.
Membrey will train with St Kilda's main group this week as Lyon ponders his forward-line dilemma.
"We'll get all the numbers on him," Lyon said.
"He's in our leadership group, he's been a very experienced key forward for a fair period of time.
"It's a big decision because those incumbents have been getting it done. It's going to be an interesting decision.
"(Membrey) needs to show that he's up and about and he feels confident in his body.
"I'm sure he'll put his hand up to play if he gets through, which to be honest he should."
Lyon has gone from expecting his inexperienced forwards to lean on Membrey earlier in the season, to insisting the 28-year-old will need to adapt to playing alongside the fresh faces.
"He'll bend to us," Lyon said.
"It was stressful. You lose Max (King) first session and then you think, around Owens and Caminiti, you've got Membrey still there.
"But then he went down and it was like, 'Wow'.
"All credit to the team, they've been able to stand up."
