ST KILDA is confident Max King will be fit to take on Adelaide in Cairns despite the young key forward continuing to manage a back complaint.

King hurt his back at training last week and the injury flared up during the narrow loss to Sydney.

The 20-year-old moved well at training on Thursday and is set to head north with the Saints for Saturday night's match at Cazaly's Stadium.

"He completed training and did what he had to do, so we're fairly confident," St Kilda coach Brett Ratten said.

"We're flying up on Saturday so he should be right to go, but if he's sore and stiff we'll take him out.

"But everything looks pretty positive."

Despite attracting criticism over his recent form, Ratten was adamant the 29-game key forward was heading in the right direction.

"He's a player that's going to keep getting to good spots and giving himself a chance," Ratten said.

"On the weekend it will be how many contests he can influence.

"He doesn't have to mark the ball, he just has to keep making sure he's getting to as many contests as he can.

"I think then he will influence the game."

King is working with Saints football boss David Rath, assistant coach Jarryd Roughead and others inside the club to manage personal and external expectations.

"It's a high-performing industry, you're a professional athlete and you want to perform, but you can get the balance wrong," Ratten said.

"Every player has these challenges about making sure it's a balanced approach and you want to be driven.

"But the outside pressure is probably higher on him as a second-year player than probably most."