Callum Wilkie may have to twist Ross Lyon’s arm if he’s to be the one filling the void up forward, but remains eager for the Saints to use the opportunity to learn how to be less reliant on spearhead Max King.         

King was the second-most targeted player inside-50 during last year’s home-and-away campaign (173 times), with 20.2 per cent of those resulting directly in a major score to the No. 12. Tim Membrey was hit up 74 times – 99 less than King – to chart next in St Kilda's forward targets.

But the Saints have been forced to turn to alternate avenues to combat the injuries to King (shoulder), Jack Hayes (foot) and Matty Allison (foot), putting greater emphasis on more players to shoulder the load in the opening weeks of the season.

Although a setback from a personnel sense, Wilkie says the squad is willing to use the chance with King sidelined to better adapt its method going into attack.   

“It’s hard when you lose players like Max who’s obviously an important player, but I’m excited for the opportunity to actually play and use the ball going forward without him,” Wilkie said at this morning’s press conference.

“It’s exciting for however many games he misses – whether it’s two, five or whatever – (that we) learn to play without him. By the time he gets back, hopefully we don’t have to go to him all the time.”

Mitch Owens has been training as a deep, key forward since the turn of the new year, while Cooper Sharman has returned to a permanent role inside-50 after being experimented in defence at stages last year.

Three-time club goalkicker Tim Membrey will again assume greater responsibility as the Saints’ leading man up forward, however there’s still room for young blood with Mattaes Phillipou continuing to press his case towards an early season debut.

“Mattaes has really stepped up. He’s a really young, confident kid – in a good way – and is talking in meetings and really driving those standards,” Wilkie said.

“He’s my height, probably a bit bigger than me already and he runs bloody well. He is a tough player to play on and he’s just turned 18.

“He does a bit of everything, he can play through the midfield and can almost play that key forward sort of role as well, so it’ll be interesting to see where they put him.”