Ella Friend and Nicola Xenos will be required to get through the Saints’ main training session this week to put their hands up for selection against the Western Bulldogs.
Friend was a late out ahead of the Gold Coast clash after injuring her shoulder the previous week, while Xenos is pushing to make her return less than 12 months after rupturing her ACL late in the 2025 season.
If selected, Saturday’s game will mark 350 days since the forward last pulled on the red, white and black.
“Nicola has done a mountain of work to put herself be cleared to return to our primary list,” General Manager AFLW Jessie Mulholland said.
“We’re really excited to see her back out there doing what she does best on Saturday, pending she gets through the required milestones this week.”
Meanwhile, Sophie Butterworth will join Irish recruit Saoirse Lally on the sidelines this week, with both players in concussion protocols.
Butterworth entered protocols following Sunday’s game after reporting symptoms post-match.
Additionally, 2025 draftee Abby Hobson commenced running last week after injuring her ankle in Round 3.
INJURY UPDATE
Ella Friend | Shoulder | Test
Nicola Xenos | ACL | Test
Carys D'Addario | Hip | TBC
Saoirse Lally | Concussion | Protocols
Sophie Butterworth | Concussion | Protocols
J’Noemi Anderson | Hamstring | Medium-term
Abby Hobson | Ankle | Medium-term
Olivia Vesely | Ankle | Long-Term
Amber Clarke | Ankle | Long-term
Alice Burke | ACL | Season
Hannah Priest | Pregnant | Season
