At a glance:

• Zak Jones is expected to be available for next week's clash with Brisbane, although the Saints remain unsure where the game will be played.
• Despite the Saints sitting just two points outside the top-eight, Brett Ratten said the club's final quarter left a "sour taste".
• Ratten praised the performance of Paddy Ryder, who flew to Western Australia during the week to attend his uncle's funeral.

St Kilda speedster Zak Jones is expected to be available for next week's crucial clash with Brisbane, although coach Brett Ratten and the Saints remain unsure where the game will be played.

The Saints moved to 11th on the ladder and within two points of the top eight after beating Collingwood by nine points on Sunday in a contest that saw them concede five goals to none in the final term which Ratten said left a "sour taste" after the victory.

They face a crucial three weeks in their quest for a late charge at the finals, with games scheduled against Brisbane (away), Port Adelaide (home) and West Coast (away) likely to decide their slim chances.

The club will weigh up whether to bring back Jones from his quad strain straight into the AFL side or through the VFL, although Ratten is unclear when and where the game will be staged.

"We're not sure yet, we're still waiting. We'll just sit back and see what happens," he said post-game.

"Every day with the restrictions and red zones and all of that we'll just wait and see. We know we've got Brisbane, we just don't know where.

"It will be at the Gabba or maybe at the MCG or maybe even Marvel Stadium. It's still up in the air so we'll just wait and see."

The Lions, who had a group of players at the game on Sunday watching the Saints overcome the Magpies, are expecting to head back to Queensland early this week. 

Ratten praised ruckman Paddy Ryder for his game after a tough personal week that saw him attend the funeral of a relative in Western Australia and then return to face the Magpies at the MCG.

"For Paddy to take off on Thursday and then land around six o'clock last night in Melbourne to pay his respects to his uncle who he loved dearly and be around his mum and dad I think is really important and he said he needed to do it and wanted to do it," Ratten said.

"We helped and supported him there and it's a credit to him. He wanted to get back and play as well and to kick two goals and do the work that he does in the ruck was pretty important."