Dunstan missed last weekend's game against Hawthorn with concussion, allowing Acres to make his debut in the loss.
"Dunstan will certainly come straight back into the team." Alan Richardson told SAINTS.com.au on Thursday.
"We missed his drive and inside play."
PREVIEW: St Kilda vs Carlton
St Kilda will not finalise it's 25-man squad until 4pm on Saturday afternoon, following a training session that the first-year senior coach described as "meaningful."
The Saints have added a host of potential inclusions and will leave their options open until Saturday.
Three omissions have been lodged, with Tom Simpkin and Shane Savage missing out and Jarryn Geary expected to be sidelined for 3-4 months with an elbow injury sustained in the second quarter last week.
Terry Milera, Josh Bruce, Arryn Siposs, Brodie Murdoch and elevated rookie Cameron Shenton have all been named on the extended bench, while Dunstan has resumed his position in the engine room.
RELATED: Shenton elevated
"It is only early," Richardson told SAINTS.com.au on Thursday.
"At this stage we have named only the squad because we have a pretty meaningful training session to get through on Saturday, so there is still a bit to go in terms of the final selection of the team.
"Whilst it was an incredibly dissapointing performance," he continued, "we aren't judging people just on that performance. There were some guys who perhaps didn't quite get it done - in fact there is many - that will maintain their positions in the team."
Following a three-goal, 20-disposal effort against Essendon's VFL team last week, Richardson forecast the potential for Siposs to slot into the forward six for what will be his first senior game since round 19 last year.
RELATED: VFL player breakdown
"Sippo is a pretty strong chance to come into the mix, he's had some pretty strong form in the VFL for a couple of weeks now - not necessarily on the scoreboard, but in his general forward play."
"We still have a bit of planning to do seeing as we don't play until Monday."
RELATED: Sandringham continues golden run
Regardless of what additional changes Richardson chooses to make, the fact that Acres, Billings and Dunstan are all considered in the best 18 players at the club this week demonstrates just how promising the future is at St Kilda.
B: Dempster Gwilt Webster
HB: Newnes Delaney Acres
C: Ray Hayes Montagna
HF: Billings Riewoldt Steven
FF: Schneider Stanley Weller
Foll: Longer Curren Dunstan
Int: Jones, Saunders, Shenton, Bruce, Siposs, Milera, Murdoch
In: Dunstan, Milera, Shenton, Bruce, Siposs, Murdoch
Out: Geary (elbow), Simpkin, Savage
