FORMER Brisbane ruckman Billy Longer will make his Saints debut this weekend when St Kilda takes on Adelaide at Etihad Stadium.

Longer replaces Tom Hickey in the side, with the ruckman suffering a corked calf during training on Friday. 

20-year-old Longer is a former Victorian Metro skipper who played nine games for the Lions after being selected with pick No.8 in the 2011 AFL National Draft.

However on the final day of last year’s trade period, Longer was traded to St Kilda for picks 25 and 41.

"We're really looking forward to Billy getting his opportunity," Senior Coach Alan Richardson told SAINTS.com.au.

"It's unfortunate for Tom but Billy has worked really hard and he travelled with the team last weekend as an emergency and didn't get the opportunity to play."

"We expect Billy to compete really strongly in the ruck.  There'll be times when he goes forward and we'll need him to play his role there, which includes playing as a big man and defending really strongly."

"In the intra-club practice form he was quite impressive and we expect him to be very strong."

Longer’s form for Sandringham was excellent a fortnight ago and he flew to Perth as an emergency last week, meaning he wasn’t able to get back in time for the Zebras’ VFL clash with Frankston last weekend. 

At 202cm, Longer is one centimetre taller than Tom Hickey.