LUKE Dunstan will miss St Kilda’s clash with North Melbourne this Saturday after failing to recover from a slight calf strain he sustained a fortnight ago.

“Luke will probably have to miss one more,” senior coach Alan Richardson said on Thursday morning.

“He gave his calf a bit of a nick against Port Adelaide and we were hoping he would get up for the Kangaroos.”

Dunstan will be joined by Jack Lonie (leg) and Daniel McKenzie (concussion) on the sidelines this week, with both first-year players receiving knocks against Fremantle last Sunday.

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“Jack injured himself when he got a holding the ball and it was really courageous by the young fella,” Richardson said.

“He will probably miss a couple of weeks I would think.”

McKenzie has played seven senior games this season, while Lonie has played 16 matches.

As for who will replace these youngsters, there are a number of players putting their hands up to come back into the team.

Richardson suggested Eli Templeton, Farren Ray and Billy Longer were all in the mix, while Darren Minchington’s standout performance for Sandringham last weekend has him poised to return to senior action.

“If Darren comes into the team on the back of having 17 tackles and close to 30 possessions in the VFL, then that makes sense,” Richardson said.

“Underpinning every decision we make is that our players have to earn the right to play. Yes he’s a young bloke and it would be great for him to get in, but he’s got to have done the work.

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“It will be what we need to replace. We have had a winger and a small forward go out, so it will be those guys in those positions that will come in."

Perhaps the most intriguing selection discussion at the moment is around St Kilda’s ruck division.

While Richardson conceded US rookie Jason Holmes is getting ‘closer all the time’ to an AFL debut, he said it is unlikely to be this week.

“Jason’s form has been good and he played a bit more forward on the weekend, which is part of his craft he needs to develop more,” he said.

“He’s going well but to play he needs an opportunity.”