IMPORTANT St Kilda forward Tim Membrey has been ruled out of the Saints' crucial clash against Geelong on Sunday at GMHBA Stadium. 

Membrey was a late out of last Saturday's 49-point loss to Adelaide after a knock flared up right knee soreness he had been dealing with for some time.

"He had some soreness in his knee that just came on spontaneously. We think he's just irritated a bit of cartilage. He's much better at this stage this week (than last week), but we will not play him this week," St Kilda head physiotherapist Andrew Wallis told saints.com.au.

"We are hoping that he runs later in the week and is available for selection next week."

St Kilda is 1-2 and hosts Greater Western Sydney in round five.

In positive news, ruckman Billy Longer (groin) and tough nut Mav Weller (hamstring) both trained on Tuesday and could be available for selection against the Cats.

"Mav had a bit of a tight hamstring and so we took a precautionary approach last week and said that he wouldn't play. Billy pulled up a bit sore after getting a knock in his pubic bone (against North Melbourne on Good Friday), so they are both hopefully available, but obviously have to get through training this week," Wallis said.

Meanwhile, unlucky midfielder Nathan Freeman joined in with the main group on Tuesday as he recovers from right hamstring surgery.

"He's going really well. He actually joined in training today, so it's his first session of joining in. Didn't do it all but just progressed through," Wallis said.

Small forward Darren Minchington is close to resuming running after a left knee operation in March.

Courageous left-footer Daniel McKenzie will miss at least two weeks, but possibly more, after a nasty incident in the VFL last Saturday.

"We can't give clarity on how many weeks, but he'll miss a couple," Wallis said.

Rookie Doultan Langlands is out indefinitely as he contends with glandular fever.