St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt is adamant he will be back playing before the end of this AFL season.

Riewoldt needed surgery on Monday after tearing a tendon in his right hamstring during Friday night's win over Collingwood.

It is a rare injury and the Saints are being careful not to put a definite timeframe on his comeback.

But Riewoldt said on Wednesday that there should be no problems with returning ahead of the finals.

"I am really confident I will make it back this year and I have no reason to think otherwise," Riewoldt told a media conference.

Saints club doctor Tim Barbour said the surgery went well and Riewoldt would start his rehabilitation process in the next few days.

"Within an appropriate time, we feel that Nick will be able to get back to playing in the latter part of the minor rounds," Barbour said.

Riewoldt's absence will put massive pressure on the St Kilda attack to remain productive, but again Riewoldt said his team would adapt.

"Saints footy, really, personnel is irrelevant," Riewoldt said.

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