St Kilda say star midfielder Lenny Hayes has escaped serious injury and are confident he can play in round one of the AFL premiership season.

Hayes corked his calf in last Saturday night's thrashing of Fremantle, but coach Ross Lyon said the Saints had ruled out a tear in the muscle.

The Saints will take a no-risk policy with their vice-captain, as he will sit out this Saturday night's pre-season final against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.

"I was certainly disappointed because he's a special midfielder," Lyon told Fairfax radio on Monday night.

"But he'd be right for the next practice game and if it was a round-one clash now we'd probably push him through to play.

"He had a scan and it basically came up negative (no tear).

"I don't want to make any closed-end statements that he'll definitely play round one, but we're very, very confident, which is a relief."

The Saints are expected to regain captain Nick Riewoldt and fellow star Brendon Goddard, who were both rested last Saturday.

They will also this week consider ruckman Michael Gardiner, who jarred a knee earlier this pre-season, and utility Jason Blake, who withdrew on Saturday night because of back tightness.

Saturday night's final is expected to draw a big crowd, although Etihad Stadium's seating capacity could be down because sections of the venue's roofing was damaged during the fierce storm that hit Melbourne last Saturday.

Officials declared some parts of the stadium off limits during the Saints-Dockers game.

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