Mason Wood will remain on the sidelines for an extended period after scans revealed bone stress in his lower back.

The flexible forward was a late withdrawal from last Saturday’s match against Brisbane with hamstring and back soreness. 

Wood will be evaluated over the next three to four weeks, with a potential return later in the season. 

Fellow forward Jack Higgins will continue to have his load managed after missing his first game in St Kilda colours due to back soreness.

Higgins, who sits third in the club’s goalkicking for 2021, is expected to be available for the following week’s game against West Coast.

Meanwhile, Nick Coffield could return to the line-up as early as next week after going down with a hamstring injury against Richmond in Round 15.

The defender’s initial diagnosis projected a period of four to six weeks on the sidelines and he has since progressed well enough to put himself back in the upcoming selection conversation.

Both Higgins and Coffield will be monitored by club medical staff and will undergo a fitness test during next week’s training block.

In other injury news, Hunter Clark (broken jaw) still remains several weeks away from a return, while Shaun McKernan is close to overcoming a toe injury.

Injury list