Fit again former Swan Dan Hannebery, enjoying an injury-free pre-season for the first time in years, has suffered another injury scare.
Plagued by injuries since the 2016 Grand Final, the All Australian battled through through on-going groin and calf issues in his final seasons with the Swans, before suffering another set back at training on Friday.
Early reports by Channel 7's Tom Browne suggested the 3-time All Australian could miss as much as a month of pre-season football, fearing the worst.
"My understanding is that he's got another soft tissue concern," Browne said on Sunday night.
"I believe Hannebery has had awareness in his hamstring in recent weeks which has progressed to a slight or mild tear - about four weeks.
"The Saints insist it's just awareness at this stage, not a tear, but they have told me they're being cautious with his program, particularly his given his recent history.
"He didn't, for example, go at 100 per cent on their camp at the peninsula this week and they'll manage Hannebery again this week."
The Saints confirmed the hamstring concerns on Monday morning, but have dismissed concerns of the seriousness of the injury, with the 27-year-old midfielder running and boxing since the scare.
His program has been managed since he was traded to the Saints from the Swans, with a gradual build-up part of the plan.
The Saints are adamant that there was no strain on the same hamstring he injured before christmas, and will now be placed on reduced workload for the next fortnight.
"The physio staff and the fitness staff here have been first-rate with the program they're setting and the work they do to get you right," Hannebery said.
"That was a really attractive thing to come down here, with some of the injury battles that I'd experienced in recent years.
"Probably being a bit smarter with my training in the off-season, and then in the pre-season to start with, and just management and knowing who to go to as well.
"You do need a little bit of luck but I'm really confident that with work ethic and some management, I'll be fine."
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