Emerging St Kilda key forward Paddy McCartin has suffered a low grade hamstring strain that will sideline him for at least the next fortnight.

The 20-year-old tweaked his hamstring halfway through the opening quarter in Saturday’s NAB Challenge clash against North Melbourne.

Despite the setback, the Saints remain hopeful the 2014 No. 1 draft pick will be available for Round 1, and could return before the start of the premiership season.

“Paddy McCartin didn’t play a lot of the game. But the news from that is reasonably positive in that it is a low grade hamstring strain,” GM – Football Performance Jamie Cox told saints.com.au on Tuesday afternoon.

“Paddy won’t be available for NAB 2, but he might be available for NAB 3 – we’re hopeful.

“But probably more likely he’ll be available for Round 1. The damage there is not too bad thankfully.”

Athletic second-year utility Daniel McKenzie was a late omission from the trip to Wangaratta after falling ill late last week.

The 19-year-old has since been diagnosed with glandular fever and is set for an indefinite period on the sidelines as the club takes a cautious approach with his health.

“Dan McKenzie was selected to play at Wangaratta. Unfortunately he didn’t make the trip because he was ill and didn’t get on the bus,” Cox said.

“We’ve subsequently found out that he’s been diagnosed with glandular fever. We’re hoping again that it’s only a mild case and he won’t be too long out of the game.”

Aside from McCartin and McKenzie, Nathan Freeman (hamstring) and Bailey Rice (glandular fever) who are an ongoing proposition, Cox said the club is in a strong position from an injury perspective ahead of the Saints second NAB Challenge fixture next week.

“The good news, with those two and Nathan Freeman and Bailey Rice, there should only be four players that we won’t be able to select for our NAB 2 team to go to Mackay at this stage,” Cox said.