MDIFIELDER Farren Ray will miss at least the first two months of the home and away season after rupturing the tendon in his right hamstring in Saturday’s NAB Challenge match against Brisbane.

The 197-gamer was assessed post-game and went in for surgery on Tuesday.

“After a successful operation, Farren is resting and we are confident he will make a full recovery,” General Manager Football Performance Jamie Cox told SAINTS.com.au.

“He will have the appropriate rehabilitation and the injury is similar to some that we have seen in the past so we know how to deal with it.”

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Ray is expected to miss 12-14 weeks with a comeback date set at around round eight.

Shane Savage and Dylan Roberton are also set to miss some action with hamstring issues, though they will both be available in time for the season opener against GWS.

Roberton will miss this week’s clash with Essendon after feeling some hamstring soreness, while Savage will miss the remainder of the NAB Challenge after suffering a mild hamstring strain.

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Head Physiotherapist Andrew Wallis said Tom Simpkin was “rehabbing really well” following an ITB release (an operation that lengthens the strong fibrous band that runs down the outside of the leg and knee).

The hard-nosed 24-year-old is expected to be available for selection ahead of St Kilda’s third NAB Challenge game, against Hawthorn on Thursday March 19.

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As reported on SAINTS.com.au on Tuesday, Jack Billings will miss four weeks with a hamstring strain, while Jimmy Webster is six weeks away from a return with a ruptured tendon in his finger.

VIDEO: Billings targets round one

Brodie Murdoch has been listed as indefinite with his lower back issues still causing the left-footer some discomfort. Although Wallis doesn’t expect the complaint to sideline Murdoch for too much longer, there was no specific timeframe on his return.

“We’ve listed him as indefinite honestly because we don’t know when he will be back, but we’d like to think his rehab is going smoothly,” Wallis said.

Tom Hickey (knee), Luke Dunstan (ankle) and Daniel Markworth (shoulder) will each be available for selection this weekend.

Hickey hasn’t played any football since round 17 last year, while Dunstan and Markworth missed Saturday’s clash with Brisbane after impressing at the intra club the previous week.