St Kilda stalwart David Armitage will be sidelined for a month after having surgery on his troublesome groin.
The important midfielder has struggled with the persistent niggle throughout the season and sat out Sunday's loss to Geelong.
"Unfortunately for Dave Armitage, he has had to undergo an adductor release surgery to correct his injury," Saints football boss Jamie Cox said.
"Dave won't run for a couple of weeks and is expected to miss at least a month."
The 28-year-old Armitage is the Saints' only major injury concern ahead of a trip to Launceston to face Hawthorn on Saturday.
Off-season recruit Koby Stevens will face fitness tests later in the week after copping a knock to the head in the VFL over the weekend.
The Saints have been heavily backed to return to the finals this season but have claimed just two wins from their first five games.
They should be challenged by the Hawks, who claimed their first win of the season with a commanding 50-point win over West Coast on Sunday.
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