SAM FISHER'S commitment to rehabilitation from a persistent hamstring injury has the veteran defender finally looking at a return to senior football in round 15.

The 31-year-old has been battling issues with the hamstring since the pre-season, previously breaking down every time he ramped up his training levels in a bid to get back.

But with some diligent training, it looks as though the 191-game veteran will return via the VFL next weekend and, all things going to plan, make a senior return against Richmond the following Saturday.

"He's getting close – this time I'm assured it's only two weeks," coach Alan Richardson said on Wednesday.

"That will be great for our fans and certainly good for our team.

"He's a chance to play this week in the VFL, possibly more likely to have a game simulation session and play the next week in the VFL and then be pretty close for senior selection.

"We just have to wait and see how he responds as we up the ante on the training track."

Boosting the Saints’ backline experience is something Richardson is keen to do, after poor ball use out of defence last Saturday against Port Adelaide.

With James Gwilt and Jimmy Webster – who has served a two-match club suspension for an altercation during the Saints' bye – likely to play against Geelong on Sunday, the coach is well placed to do that.
Richardson said it had been a credit to how Fisher had handled persistent setbacks, which culminated when he suffered a reoccurrence of the hamstring injury in the VFL in May.

"I'm sure it's been a battle. You wouldn't know it though," he said.

"He's been a really positive influence. He's worked really closely with the guys who play VFL footy so he goes on game day and he sits in the box.

"He's been really supportive of the program, he has an influence from a leadership perspective and his commitment to his own rehab has been exceptional.

"Given all that, there's no doubt it would have been frustrating. He's a footballer and he wants to play and he hasn't been able to do that.

"He's going to get an opportunity in a couple of weeks."

David Armitage is also set to play against the Cats at Simonds Stadium after two games in the VFL.

Richardson said Webster had acquitted himself well on the back of the club-imposed suspension.

"He went back and his attitude was really good, as we'd expect," he said.

"He took it on the chin, rightly so … he did the crime, he had to pay for it with non-selection for a couple of weeks.

"He's played some good footy and he's a pretty important player for us and it was disappointing for us to not have him there.

"There's every chance he'll come back in."

The Saints don't have fond memories of the Cats' home ground, having been smashed by 101 points there in round 18 last year.

But Richardson said the Saints won’t dwell on that performance at all and instead would focus on maintaining pressure for longer than they did against the Power.  

"Geelong at Geelong … Geelong anywhere, really, are a fantastic footy team," he said.

"It's another significant challenge for our group but everyone will go out with real clarity as to what's expected from their individual perspective and what's expected from a team point of view.

"It's about maintaining certain facets of the game for longer and that will be our challenge against Geelong."