While Luke Ball has decided to give up his role as St Kilda co-captain, Lenny Hayes is keen to maintain his leadership position with the Saints this season.

Hayes, Ball and Nick Riewoldt shared the captaincy duties last year and Hayes, the oldest of the trio, has told coach Ross Lyon he wants to carry on.

"I am not too sure which way Ross is going to go this year but ... I would love to do it again," Hayes said.

Hayes first captained the Saints in 2006, as the second person to hold the position under former coach Grant Thomas' experimental rotational system of selecting captains. He returned to the position last year when Lyon took over at St Kilda.

The 28-year-old midfielder is now one of the most experienced players at Moorabbin and said he had grown into the role of a mentor for younger players over the past two years. Hayes said he felt more comfortable in his role as leader now than at any previous time in his career.