ST KILDA is confident that Michael Gardiner,controversially recruited to bolster the Saints' ruck stocks but yet to play a senior game for his second club, still can have an impact this year.

The 27-year-old former West Coast vice-captain, who relocated after being offered an AFL lifeline, was upbeat, according to Saints football manager Ken Sheldon, despite being unlikely to play until after the mid-season break. After being withdrawn from two VFL matches because of a foot injury, Gardiner was taken out of the selection mix.

"I would think there's an underlying confidence that he'll be OK in that … he's lived this before with his other foot and there's actually a little extra time being dedicated to correcting this one," Sheldon said. "We're expecting to learn more about that probably in the coming fortnight as he increases his workload and works out whether his foot can withstand the increased workload."

Gardiner had surgery on his left foot when at the Eagles, but his new club is optimistic that will not be necessary this time. But like key defender Matt Maguire, who yesterday had scans on his injured foot, Gardiner is yet to resume running.

"I was hoping for maybe (a round-12 return against) West Coast over there, but it might be a couple of weeks later than that," Maguire said on Channel Ten.

Max Hudghton is in line to return after overcoming a quadriceps complaint and playing 80 per cent of a VFL game on Sunday.