St Kilda key forward Josh Bruce says his partner in attack Paddy McCartin is likely to miss only a couple of weeks after he tweaked his hamstring early in Saturday’s loss to North Melbourne in the Saints opening NAB Challenge match.

The pair looked promising inside 50 in the Saints intra-club match and were set to work on the synergy they have fine-tuned over the summer during the NAB Challenge series.

But whilst that is on hold for the meanwhile, Bruce remains confident the work he and McCartin have compiled over the pre-season will hold them in good stead as they look to form a lethal partnership inside the Saints forward 50.

“It was a little bit (disappointing he went off). I obviously love playing with Paddy,” Bruce told reporters on Monday at the Saints community camp at Mt Martha Primary School.

“We’re starting to get a really good combination together and we’re working well together. We’ve had a really strong pre-season together.

“He’s going to be assessed this week and I’m sure he’ll be back in a couple of weeks. I think he definitely will be (back by round one). We’re just taking a moderate approach with him.”

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Peering into the future, Bruce forecasted an evolving forward setup with McCartin playing closer to goal and Bruce playing higher up the ground as a mobile target in transition.

“I’d probably say that he’ll stay a little bit deeper. Obviously (McCartin) being a young, second-year player, I probably have an edge on him with the running capacity side of things, so getting up and working back. He’s vastly improved in that area, but we all have a way to go,” Bruce said.

On the back of his breakout season where he kicked 50.24 (ranked equal 10th in the AFL) and emerged as one of the best young key forwards in the game, Bruce knows he must add more strings to his bow this season in order to remain on an upward trajectory.

Under the watchful eye of forwards coach Aaron Hamill, the former Greater Western Sydney defender has spent the summer working on improving his strength in the contest and body positioning to make him a more well-rounded weapon in attack.

“It was a good season. Obviously I’ve had to learn a few more tricks over the summer. It was probably the first full year that I’ve played forward in quite a while.

“I’ve learned a few more tricks off Aaron Hamill and been working on my craft.

“I put a couple of kilos on over the off-season, so just getting a little bit stronger in the contest without losing any running capabilities.”

Out of contract at season’s end, Bruce’s management and St Kilda are having conversations regarding a new contract.

“I think my manager and the club are in talks at the moment. I’m obviously happy at the Saints but I don’t think we’re in a massive rush," Bruce said.

“At this stage, (I’m) pretty happy.”

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