Suspensions could hurt AFL clubs more than injuries at selection for this weekend's round one AFL games.

Injuries had a massive impact on many teams last year, but after a long pre-season several clubs are ruing their players' temperaments rather than bad luck.

Collingwood must cover for suspended trio Scott Burns, Paul Licuria and Jason Cloke in Friday night's opener against Richmond at the MCG after the three were outed in last year's finals.

Richmond also has defender Mark Chaffey suspended, although the Tigers will also be without key big men Brad Ottens (back) and Ben Holland (knee).

Hawthorn must also cover for suspended ruck-forward Nathan Thompson when it takes on Melbourne on Sunday.

Essendon too faces the toughest road trip in football - Brisbane at the Gabba - without suspended key defenders Dustin Fletcher and Mark Bolton.

And Port Adelaide - still without a win all year - also starts with fit players out, missing midfielder Josh Carr and big man Dean Brogan against West Coast.

But with injuries such a potentially decisive factor, most clubs enjoyed good news after the last weekend of the pre-season.

The Kangaroos and St Kilda received good news ahead of their clash on Saturday.

Kangaroos ruck Matthew Burton and defender Glenn Archer are both an outside chance of playing the Saints.

Burton suffered a foot injury in a VFL trial match on Saturday when 110kg teammate Saverio Rocca fell heavily on his foot.

Burton was cleared of bone damage and will train later this week in a far better result than what Kangaroos coach Dean Laidley first envisaged.

"We really did think the worst, especially in the changerooms afterwards and it probably wasn't all that flash and we were expecting six-to-eight-to-10 weeks, so to get at worst one is great for us," Laidley said.

"Hopefully he'll be doing some (training) by Wednesday or Thursday and if (the swelling) comes down quick enough he'll play, but if not he'll probably miss a week."

Archer trained with a cast after breaking a bone in his hand during the pre-season and will see a specialist.

"At worst (Archer will miss) probably this week (and) at best he'll play, so we've just got to wait and see," Laidley said.

St Kilda ruck Justin Koschitzke was cleared of major damage after he took a blow to the ribs in the VFL.

Koschitzke - who played just four games last year because of back troubles - must prove his fitness on Wednesday to play.

Adelaide is confident forward Mark Stevens will overcome a jarred knee to play Fremantle at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.

"He's started running this week and we're pretty confident he should be right, he's at least 80-20 so he should be right," an Adelaide spokesman said.

Veteran fullback Mick Martyn is likely to make his debut for Carlton against Sydney at Telstra Dome with a match-up against old adversary Barry Hall.

Martyn trained well in a return from a knee injury and could make his debut for the Blues alongside new Blues coach Denis Pagan.

"Mick's always had a good record of coming up fresh, if he can make a contribution it just allows us to play key personnel in the positions we want to play them," Pagan said.

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