St Kilda hope to know in the next 48 hours whether key defender Max Hudghton is fit for Sunday's AFL blockbuster against Geelong.

The 32-year-old veteran was stretchered off in the first quarter of the twilight win over Richmond with an ankle injury.

Hudghton was in agony immediately after falling to ground awkwardly at Etihad Stadium when he tried to spoil.

Coach Ross Lyon admits there were initial fears the injury might be career-threatening.

Hudghton remarkably returned to the field in the second term, but finished the game on the bench and was on crutches in the rooms afterwards.

Lyon said Hudghton would have scans when any immediate swelling had subsided enough.

"He didn't feel quite right - what that means, I don't know," he said.

"There was feedback that we thought it was significant, so we were really concerned.

"If it was as significant as we first thought, it would have been season and potentially career, without being too dramatic - and I can see the headline already.

"It was a big pack and he looked in a lot of pain."

Lyon also made it clear the Saints will give Hudghton every chance to prove his fitness for the Etihad Stadium blockbuster against Geelong.

"It was obviously a good sign to see him come back on," Lyon said.

"As the game unfolded, we certainly didn't want to risk him any more than we needed to, so hence we pulled him for the rest of the match.

"The word 'love' is bandied around a bit, isn't it? - we certainly respect Max and see him as a key contributor.

"He's got an important part to play, in a nutshell we'll hold our breath a little bit, but it's certainly not career-ending or season-ending."

It was only Hudghton's third senior game this season after recovering from a pre-season calf muscle injury.

Fellow defender Matt Maguire is pushing for a senior recall if Hudghton is ruled out.

Maguire has had a shocking run with injuries and has not played in the AFL since round seven last year.

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