ST KILDA could regain Sam Fisher and Jack Billings for this Sunday’s match against Essendon, while Paddy McCartin, Hugh Goddard, Daniel McKenzie and Eli Templeton continue to put pressure on the selection committee following strong efforts for Sandringham last week.

Billings has missed St Kilda’s last two games with shin soreness but prior to that the teenager was enjoying a breakout season, averaging 20.3 disposals per outing.

Head physiotherapist Andrew Wallis said while Billings is no certainty to be available, he is more likely than unlikely to play. However with four days until the game, the final decision will rest on how the precociously talented left-footer trains on Thursday and Friday.

Meanwhile, Fisher’s back injury has settled and like Billings, he has been listed as a ‘test.’

“Sam Fisher is coming good,” Alan Richardson said on Tuesday.

“We obviously don’t play until Sunday, so there’s a fair bit of water to go under the bridge but as long as he trains strongly we’ll consider him.”

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From a VFL perspective, McCartin appears to be presenting the strongest case for a promotion.

Having booted four goals against Footscray on Sunday, Richardson did not rule out handing the 18-year-old his third senior game.

“Yeah Patty was good, he was strong,” he said.

“He played on Austin, which I know reasonably well and he’s a good strong aggressive defender. So it was a good effort by Paddy. He was one of a few that performed strongly so he certainly put his hand up for selection.”

Who McCartin replaces is the unanswerable question. Tim Membrey had his ‘best game for the club’ according to Richardson, while Josh Bruce and Nick Riewoldt have formed an imposing partnership in 2015.

“The reality is, they (the young players) need to potentially wait for an opportunity,” Richardson said.

“If there is someone in their position who is playing their role at AFL level and we don’t need to change it, then they’ve just got to keep performing strongly at VFL level. It is good for their growth and good for their development.

“If their form is strong and that coincides with opportunity because the team didn’t get it done or the players in their position didn’t get it done, then they’ll come in. So that’s their challenge, they’ve just got to keep performing strongly.”

Ahmed Saad and Jack Sinclair may come into consideration given their excellent games on Sunday, however in order to play AFL, either one would first have to be upgraded to the senior list.

Tom Curren’s broken fibula, which will rule him out for 10-12 weeks, leaves the door ajar for either of these two, Jason Holmes or Brenton Payne - but St Kilda is yet to decide whether it will exercise its right to move Curren onto the long-term injury list and promote a rookie in his place.

Whatever happens at the selection table this week, Richardson and his coaching staff have plenty of scenarios to consider.

St Kilda will name an extended seven-man bench on Thursday evening, before cutting it to four players on Friday.