ST KILDA'S soft-tissue injury curse has claimed veteran defender Max Hudghton for a second time this year after he tweaked a hamstring during the club's 17-point win over Richmond last night.

Just a week after star forward Justin Koschitzke hurt his hamstring during a commanding performance against West Coast, another spirited Saints win was marred by an injury to a key player.

Hudghton will undergo a scan early next week with coach Ross Lyon unsure after the game of the severity of his injury. Another hamstring problem will ensure further scrutiny of the club's medical and conditioning staff.

"There's been a bit of discussion this year," Lyon said about the club's injury record. "I just need to go away and assess it. We'll listen to what our medical and conditioning staff have to say. It's disappointing to get a hamstring to Justin Koschitzke the week before and then to receive another one to another key player."

Hudghton has missed most of season 2007. Out for seven games after tearing his quad muscle against Brisbane at the Gabba in round two, he was starting to regain form after his extended layoff.

Hudghton's injury dealt the Tigers an early forward line advantage last night. He had lined up on Nathan Brown in the first quarter but made little impact on the game.

When the team broke from the quarter time huddle he did not return to the field, disappearing into the St Kilda rooms and re-emerging just before half-time, wearing a tracksuit and a forlorn expression.

But the news was not all bad for the Saints. Fellow defender Jason Gram left the field during the final quarter with what appeared to be a groin injury but returned ten minutes later and Lyon said he was suffering only from cramp.

The Tigers escaped unscathed and coach Terry Wallace appeared happy with the resolve and improvement shown by his young side.

"I saw it as a pretty good football match, hard running and competitive but when it came down to the crux of it they were a bit more mature than we are at this stage," he said.

Forward Kane Pettifer is the only doubt for next week after he was reported for striking Leigh Fisher in the opening term. Wallace said he had not seen the incident.

Without Hudghton last night, St Kilda was short of options at the back. As Richmond spearhead Matthew Richardson got on top of his opponent Sam Fisher in the second quarter, Saints' coach Lyon had little option but to persevere with the match-up.

Hudghton's first-quarter opponent Brown was dangerous all night, finishing with three goals and among the Tigers' best.

The Saints now sit on six wins and seven losses and are gathering momentum for a finals charge in the second half of the season but Lyon said he was not even contemplating whether the club would make the eight.

"We want to try and claw back some respect and over the past two weeks the players have made some inroads in that area," he said.

The Saints began the year with a string of injuries to key defenders including Matt Maguire, Jason Gram and Hudghton. Maguire, who is yet to play this year after battling stress fractures in his foot, looms as a possible replacement for Hudghton against Collingwood next week after making his return in the VFL.

Lyon said Maguire and former captain Aaron Hamill could play next week. St Kilda has struggled with injuries for several seasons. Former Brisbane Lions conditioning coach Craig Starcevich was brought in last season to improve the club's preparation but departed in February, citing family reasons.