“That’s our thoughts on that at this stage, but there is a bit of water to go under the bridge as that is three or four weeks away.
“He won’t play any further part in the regular season. If we make it, he will put his hand up to play.”
Hardwick said the Tigers would be cautious with Martin, who they had initially hoped would return during the season.
“Speaking to Dustin about how he feels and what the medical staff think, he has had two incidents [with his hamstring] so we have to be a little bit cautious with him,” Hardwick said.
“With where we are at, when he is back, we have to make sure he is ready to go.
“He hasn’t played a lot of footy. He has only played eight games for the year so we want to give him his very best chance to play at his best from him, we know what he is like and if we get there, he will have a significant part to play.
Hardwick hoped Nick Vlaustin would prove his fitness after injuring his ribs but the defender was yet to be locked in, while Shai Bolton should play despite being managed this week.
“Nick has got a rib issue so he will train today and we will see how he goes,” Hardwick said on Thursday.
“He’s a pretty tough man, we will see. He won’t do the full session but he’s still a chance.
loading
“Shai has had a big season and is an important player, he went through a couple of management things earlier in the week but should do most of training today.”
The Tigers also announced on Thursday that Tyler Sonsie, Noah Cumberland and Ben Miller had all signed two-year contract extensions.
Hardwick also made it clear his club wanted to be in the finals and would do all they could to make it.
“There is no question we want to make the finals – we know we are good enough to play there and we know we are good enough to challenge,” Hardwick said.
“So if we didn’t make it, absolutely, it’s a failure.”
Hannebery to miss clash with Lions
Dan Hannebery won’t play in St Kilda’s must-win clash with Brisbane, with coach Brett Ratten revealing they were likely to rest him even before his latest injury.
The luckless midfielder suffered an ankle injury in the Saints’ heavy loss to Geelong last round, which was only his second match of the season due to persistent calf problems.
Ratten has ruled Hannebery out of Friday night’s Marvel Stadium clash but said it was already on the cards due to the six-day turnaround.
“He won’t get up, we’re going to manage Dan,” Ratten said ahead of training at Moorabbin on Thursday.
“It was a conversation that we had even before last weekend’s game around a six-day turnaround for a player that hasn’t played a lot of footy and the risk of playing him.
Dan Hannebery will not play against the Lions.Credit:Getty Images
“We were having that conversation and then with the ankle, the risk probably becomes greater and allowing Dan to get through this weekend and be ready for the following week will be really important.
“So we’ll manage him and he’ll have the weekend off.”
Ratten said the 31-year-old had been able to complete some training this week, with the injury not as serious as initially feared.
But he didn’t think it was worth the risk despite the high stakes, with the ninth-placed Saints’ finals hopes on the verge of being snuffed out with two rounds to play.
“With the ankle, it’s an easy one to manage,” Ratten said.
“We have to look after Dan as well.
“The game is super important for us – we can’t shy away from that so picking our best team, but we’ve got to make sure that everyone can get through as well, that’s important.
“We’ve got to make sure we’ve got 22 fit men to run out of the game.”
AAP
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.