ST KILDA will be without a number of key players when it takes on Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

Coming off a 31-point loss to the Lions, the Saints currently sit 16^th on the AFL ladder and the task doesn’t get much easier, having to face the top-placed Hawks keen to bounce back after a disappointing loss to Richmond.

As if that wasn’t bad enough for the Saints, they’ll have to take on a Hawthorn outfit that boasts star forwards Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead – keen to atone for their performances against the Tigers in which they kicked only one goal between them.

Unfortunately for St Kilda and Coach Scott Watters, tall defensive options are few and far between after Rhys Stanley broke his collarbone last weekend and will miss the remainder of the season.

Fellow key back Tom Simpkin also won’t play against the Hawks after undergoing surgery for a leg injury.

The pair were named as St Kilda’s full back and centre half back against the Lions last Saturday night.

The loss of the two key defenders is compounded by the fact James Gwilt (knee), Beau Maister (hamstring), Sam Gilbert (knee) and Sam Fisher (toe) are all injured and won’t play on Friday night.

Spencer White, another tall key position prospect yet to make his senior debut, is also out injured.

That means Sean Dempster could be forced to take a match-up on one of Franklin or Roughead, and the Saints will also most likely recall veteran Jason Blake to fill a key defensive post after he impressed in the VFL with 23 disposals.

Tom Lee, a 194cm key position player who has been playing forward in his seven games this season could be pushed into defence to learn his craft from two of the best key forwards in the league.