Experienced Saint Sam Gilbert played just about everywhere last season, plugging every hole that was leaking for Alan Richardson. He started in the middle, spent time up forward, before returning to his natural habitat in the defensive 50.

Gilbert, 30, is more than halfway through his 12th pre-season where he has spent the summer training with a new look backline that now includes recent acquisitions, Nathan Brown and Jake Carlisle.

The Queenslander expects to spend 2017 playing down back, but is prepared to play multiple roles for the Saints if required, just like he was last season.

“At the moment I’ve been training down back, but I’m still doing a little bit through the midfield,” Gilbert told saints.com.au on Wednesday.

“I still want to be a player that can play multiple roles, but I think at the moment I’ll be playing mainly down back.”

After overcoming three injury decimated seasons between 2013 and 2015, where he played just 26 games due to an array of setbacks, Gilbert played all 22 games last year following a strong summer on the track.

Ahead of 2017, the versatile defender is focused on improving his strength and endurance by completing as many sessions as possible over the pre-season.

“For me, there’s just a real emphasis on getting stronger and on building up my aerobic fitness this pre-season; they’re my main goals over the summer,” Gilbert said.

“I feel like I’ve improved in both of those areas thus far this pre-season. My focus hasn’t changed much from what I’ve done the last few years.”

And after being around the club during a difficult period following the Grand Final era, Gilbert has been reinvigorated by the path under Richardson, which saw the Saints on the brink of September last year and in the frame for finals this year.

“It’s really exciting to be honest. You play footy to play finals, so to be a team that’s considered a chance to play finals this year, I can really see the boys embracing that and really working hard to try and make that goal a reality this year,” he said.