St Kilda have temporarily resolved the dilemma surrounding their key forward Fraser Gehrig, with the AFL club putting him on the long-term injury list.

Under AFL rules, Gehrig will be out of action for at least eight weeks and it means the struggling Saints can put a rookie player onto their senior list while he is unavailable.

Also on Tuesday, it appeared as though the club's well-documented injury scourge had cruelled them again when star onballer Luke Ball arrived at training wearing a protective "moon boot".

But the Saints insist it is only a precaution and he will play against Brisbane this Sunday at the Gabba.

Gehrig, 32, retired at the end of last season, but only a few weeks later he decided to keep playing and the Saints were able to pick him up again in the draft.

So far this season, he has been unable to recapture anything approaching his top form and his AFL future has been the subject of growing speculation.

The big Saint, known as the "G-Train", has also revealed he is suffering from arthritis in his hands.

"My body just isn't what is used to be and despite my best efforts to play competitively, I will now need to take some time to work out how to better manage my hands," he said in a club statement.

"My return this year was always going to be a risk, but I love the Saints and the game and was fully prepared to take my chances.

"I don't regret a minute of it, but these days I've got to listen to my body when it tells me that I'm pushing it too hard."

Gehrig was not at training on Tuesday and he met with Saints coach Ross Lyon to discuss his future.

"Football can be a gruelling sport but when your body tells you to rest, you need to rest," Lyon said.

"Fraser is one of the most popular players in the competition and will be an inspiration to the game for many years to come."

While Gehrig will have a break, the Saints say Ball will not.

Ball was their best player in Friday night's narrow loss to Collingwood.

He is steadily regaining top form after struggling with the groin condition osteitis pubis.

A club spokesman explained Ball is wearing the moon boot on his left foot only as a precaution, having suffered a kick to the ankle before the Collingwood game.

The spokesman added Ball had also worn the boot leading up to his starring role against the Magpies.

Asked if Ball was in doubt to play Brisbane, the spokesman replied "not at all".

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