St Kilda coach Ross Lyon admits he is sometimes surprised his team has done so well through an unusually tough AFL season.

The Saints are guaranteed a home qualifying final against Geelong, with only Saturday's match against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium to come before September action.

They have overcome a succession of problems on and off the field, most notably a long-term hamstring injury to captain Nick Riewoldt and the ongoing issues surrounding Andrew Lovett's rape case.

While they have three and a half wins less than this time last year, there is an argument the Saints are better-placed because their many challenges have made them stronger.

"Sometimes we pinch ourselves, we're going into round 22, we've had 15 wins and we're third on the ladder - I don't think it's felt like that all year," Lyon said.

"Obviously Nick's injury and a few sagas along the way, Grammy (Jason Gram) out, Steven Baker a nine-game suspension - there have been some unique circumstances.

"It's a credit to the group's mental toughness, we think we're a mentally-strong group.

"All those challenges we've faced, accepted and overcome stand us in really good stead going into a period (that is) played above the shoulders a fair bit."

The Saints' most recent challenge has been to rally from the round-18 upset loss to Essendon, which they have done with three-straight wins.

Now they are set to regain star midfielder Lenny Hayes, run-with onballer Clint Jones, ruckman Michael Gardiner and full-back Zac Dawson from injury for the Crows match.

Asked if the Saints would make so many changes a week out from the finals, Lyon replied: "no doubt ... they're really important players to us."

He also expects a fierce contest against the Crows, who will farewell several veteran players.

Trent Hentschel is the latest player to announce his retirement, a day after Andrew McLeod also confirmed his career is over.

"They were really impressive on Saturday night (against Collingwood), a lot of enthusiasm, obviously they want a scalp," Lyon said of Adelaide.

"They've had four close losses and you can see the frustration.

"(It's also) the farewell to McLeod, (Simon) Goodwin and (Brett) Burton also, they're club greats, so there's going to be emotion riding high.

"It's always tough over there, so it's probably the perfect prelude to finals, really, a high-tempo, intense game of footy and they play really strong team defence ... there are some really good challenges for us."

Lyon added Baker has recovered from a broken toe and is back training ahead of his suspension ending at the start of the finals.

But the Saints coach added Baker will have to force his way back into the side.

"He's tracking reasonably well, I had discussions with him this morning," Lyon said.

"But obviously it's going to go to the wire for him, there are incumbents in the team he has to displace.

"We've got a lot of time for Stevey - he's running, he's training and he's working through that, I'm really, really optimistic."

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