ADAM Schneider will make his long-awaited return to football via VFL team Sandringham this weekend.

Schneider, who has not played at any level since injuring his hamstring in round two, will line up for the Zebras against Bendigo Gold on Sunday.

The 29-year-old managed just eight games last year as he battled injury concerns.

But he could still prove to be an integral part of St Kilda’s run home to the end of the season after a long layoff.

[ RELATED: Schneider return imminent ]

The dangerous small forward is one of several Saints on the comeback trail with Beau Maister and Sam Gilbert both recovering strongly after hamstring and knee injuries respectively.

Both Maister and Gilbert could be as little as three weeks away from returning from their injuries.

[ RELATED: Full injury list ]

Sam Fisher has returned to the club and already begun his 2014 campaign after a successful operation to address his foot injury.

Fisher has been ruled out for the rest of the season and on Thursday was placed on the Long Term Injury list, with Tom Curren elevated to replace him.

[ RELATED: Persistence pays off for Curren ]

Daniel Markworth has spent much of the season on the Long Term Injury list after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in December but he will continue his road to recovery with a week of one on one training with former Ironman champion Trevor Hendy on the Gold Coast next week.

Hendy is familiar with the Saints, having travelled with the team to its High Altitude Training Camp in Boulder, Colorado last season.