Prior to last year, Jack Billings had rarely missed a game of football in his entire career. But after succumbing to a stress fracture in his shin, the highly-rated young gun had the brakes applied on his promising career, putting him in unfamiliar territory.

The former No. 3 draft pick played nine of the first ten games of 2015, producing moments of brilliance and pure class that left St Kilda fans salivating. But unfortunately the excitement ended prematurely with Billings as the cruel reality of injury drew his season to a halt.

Since returning from the Christmas interval, the 20-year-old has transitioned back into full training, slowly putting his injury concerns behind him. Although due to the nature of his injury, the club will continue to closely monitor his workload to ensure the problematic issue doesn’t resurface.

After such a long, frustrating absence, Billings is thrilled to be back on the tools in a full capacity and has set his sights on the looming NAB Challenge series, which is creeping up in the not too distant future.

“It’s been a good solid period for me. I’ve been back training with the boys for the past few weeks. So I’m obviously rapt to be back and just enjoying being out there,” Billings told saints.com.au.

“We’ve started match simulation, so that’s always fun. I’m just looking forward to starting the praccy games.

“I was in rehab for a fair while and slowly they graduated me back into the main group. The club’s been really good to me in looking out for me and just taking a cautious approach so I can get back to full fitness.”

After overcoming the initial shock of suffering a long-term injury, albeit of a less conventional manner, Billings put his head down and went about doing everything in his power to get his body back to a state where it could cope with the rigours of league football.

“It was obviously pretty disappointing. I’ve never missed half a season before so it was a bit of a shock to the system. When I got the news I tried to mentally get my head around it as quick as I could and just look forward,” Billings said.

“I put all my energy into getting myself right and all my rehab that I’ve done ever since. It wasn’t easy, but hopefully that’s behind me now.”

Polished by foot and clinical with his decision making, Billings is viewed as a damaging component of the Saints evolving engine room, particularly with his forward 50 entries and potency forward of centre.

After 25 games spent predominantly hovering across half-forward, Billings is tipped to spend more time inside the centre square this season as his development takes another step forward. A move the Oakleigh Chargers product is hopeful of and believes will suit the reduction in interchange rotations.

“Hopefully (I will spend more time in the midfield), if form permits and the coach wants me to play there,” Billings said.

“I think less rotations this year, down to 90, will probably help that because we’re going to have several numbers of players rolling through the midfield so hopefully I get an opportunity.”

St Kilda’s pre-season campaign enters the business end of the program next week with the Saints holding an intra-club match at Sandringham, before their first NAB Challenge fixture against North Melbourne on February 20.