ST KILDA captain Nick Riewoldt should be fine to play in this week’s final home and away game against Melbourne.

Riewoldt was hobbling late in the final term of Sunday’s loss to North Melbourne, but scans on his knee revealed no damage.

Teammate Leigh Montagna said Riewoldt would play if he was fit and was unlikely to be rested against the Demons.

 “That’s up to the match committee and the fitness staff. I don’t think Nick would want a rest, it’s only a sort of jarring,” Montagna said.

“He’ll see how he pulls up by the end of the week and that is something that can easily come up by the end of the week. Knowing Nick, I would expect him to play.”

Lenny Hayes was running with the main group after he was a late withdrawal through illness from Sunday’s team. Raphael Clarke, Jason Gram and Steven King also completed light duties.

The Saints suffered their second successive loss on the weekend, but Montagna said the consistency and effort was the focus of attention rather than the result.

“I don’t think the loss was an issue because we haven’t spoken about wins and losses this year – it is  more how we go about it. Obviously we were disappointed how we went about it against Essendon and again on the weekend,” he said.

“A few of the boys have had a good look at the tape it this week and spoken to their coaches and we are expecting everyone to be able to bounce back.

"We’ve played 21 games and 18 or 19 times we’ve played how we want to. We know we’ve got the ability, we just need to bring it out this week.”

Montagna said the side was looking to return to its intense and ferocious best from earlier in the season.

“We know we’ve got it in us and can produce it. That’s what we’re trying to do this week,” he said.

“Maybe little things like where we are on the ladder might affect the sort of style that we wanted to play, but this week we are looking to get that performance back leading up to the finals.”