A RIGHT groin injury will again keep gun St Kilda backman Jimmy Webster out of its line-up to face Greater Western Sydney on Saturday but draftee Nick Coffield is set to return.

Fellow defender Nathan Brown has recovered from a left hamstring strain, although whether he's selected is another matter.

Logan Austin will miss again with a groin concern.

Richardson spoke to reporters at RSEA Park on Thursday and confirmed Webster, whose chances of winning the best and fairest have dipped after his groin flared up, would not face the Giants.

"Jimmy won't play, which is disappointing, which will give Coffield an opportunity. He's very likely to come back in," Richardson said.

The Giants haven't been overly tall up forward with Jeremy Cameron (suspended) and Jonathon Patton (left knee) unavailable, instead playing Rory Lobb and Harry Himmelberg as marking targets.

"Austin is unlikely to play this week and 'Browny' will play," Richardson said.

"Whether that's with us or at VFL level, we'll have to make that call based on match-ups or whether we think he's ready to go, but he trained pretty strongly out there today."

Webster, 25, suffered his groin injury in the win over Gold Coast in round 13, missed a game, returned but then tweaked the scar tissue against Carlton a fortnight ago.

Coffield, who was drafted at No.8 last year, hasn't been seen in the senior side since round 12.

Meanwhile, luckless forward Paddy McCartin remains sidelined with a Lisfranc sprain in his left foot.

There is no guarantee he will return before season's end.

"He's doing really light work. He needs to up the load," Richardson said.

"We haven't really put a timeframe on that. We'll just see how he goes as the training ramps up."

Midfielder Nathan Freeman has lined up in six straight VFL matches on return from a left shoulder problem as he seeks his long-awaited debut, five years into his career.

It won't happen at Spotless Stadium but Richardson said the unveiling was not far away.

"He's physically right to go now," Richardson said.

"We think his footy's heading the right way, in terms of playing our way, but just really physically exploding and really using his attributes, that's the next box he needs to tick and we're pretty confident that he'll get there in the next few weeks."