Groin injuries, as well as his well-documented hand arthritis, forced St Kilda's Fraser Gehrig onto the AFL club's long-term injury list.

A day after the Saints announced Gehrig would be sidelined for at least eight weeks, coach Ross Lyon went into more detail about why the key forward was out of action.

"Great players don't tend to tell you where their bodies are at ... so we sat down, (had) really good discussions and there was the opportunity for the eight weeks to rehabilitate his body and then take it from there," Lyon said.

"That's fundamentally the decision we've made and we think it's in the best interests of both parties.

"His groins have been sore - is it OP (osteitis pubis)? I don't know, everyone calls it OP, a few of those things.

"You just see at ground level, his balance, his ability to hold his ground as he's being buffeted ... great players don't go to ground too often, but Fraser was on the ground a little bit by his standards."

Asked if Gehrig had to be talked out of retiring, Lyon replied "not particularly".

Gehrig had a short-lived retirement late last year before returning to the Saints, but has struggled this season.

The decision to put him on the long-term injury list means the Saints can promote a rookie, but Lyon said Gehrig was not doing the club a favour.

"It's not about doing me a favour, it's about what's the best thing for St Kilda," Lyon said.

"The best thing for St Kilda is the decision we've come (to) - there's no favours, there's no sentiment in AFL footy.

"It's not rest - it's an eight-week rehab, that's what you do when you're injured.

"We'll hand him over to the conditioning and medical experts and let the cobblers do the cobbling.

In better injury news for the Saints, Lyon was confident captain Nick Riewoldt and onballer Steven Baker would return from knee problems for Sunday's match at the `Gabba against Brisbane.

"He (Riewoldt) is a really good opportunity to play, we're really optimistic he'll play, but he's got two sessions to get through, today and Friday.

"Baker is in exactly the same category."

Riewoldt has made a speedy comeback from the injury he suffered in round seven against Richmond.

Luke Ball (ankle) was restricted to light duties on Wednesday, but Lyon was also confident about his availability.

In a wide-ranging media conference on Wednesday, Lyon also dealt with some harsh media criticism of his coaching and the Saints' form.

St Kilda and Brisbane have four wins from eight games, but the Lions are in much better form.

"We just think we're around the mark, but at some stage we'll string a few together and we're keen to start that string this week," he said.

"Good teams win interstate and we believe we're a good team, the players and myself.

"It's a wonderful opportunity for us and we'll be going up there full of confidence."

Lyon has struggled at times with media scrutiny since becoming senior coach last year, but said he is coping better with the pressure.

"When (we're) losing, you (the media) will terrorise us and when we're winning, you'll pump us up pretty quick," he said.

"That's fine, that's AFL footy in Melbourne.

"If you don't like pressure and you don't like being judged, get out of the business."

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