Alan Richardson has backed midfielder Luke Dunstan to force his way into the senior side in the coming weeks.

The 23-year-old was left out of the Saints’ line-up to face the Lions on Saturday, but Richardson said Dunstan wasn’t far away.

"It's obviously disappointing for Luke not to be playing, but it's a reflection of our depth, particularly through the midfield,” he said.

“We expect him to go back to the VFL … and perform well and put pressure on (the selection committee) really soon."

The South Australian was drafted at No.18 in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft and had been a regular before being dropped for the first time in his career last season.

He returned to be arguably the Saints’ best in the latter stages of the home-and-away season.

Richardson also backed speedy draftee Nick Coffield to soon follow fellow draftee Hunter Clark’s footsteps in the very near future.

"Hunter's been really impressive," Richardson said.

"The role that he'll play, there's a position there for him given what he's done and that's just the reality of where we're at.

"There's a little bit more depth across half-back, given that that's where we've been playing Coff."

Dunstan and Coffield will join experienced duo Sam Gilbert and Mav Weller in Sandringham’s VFL practice match on Saturday afternoon.