The Saints will pick Tom Couch for Saturday's Hampden league decider while the Eagles will give Sam James until after training on Thursday night to prove his fitness.

Koroit coach Chris McLaren says ex-Melbourne player Couch would regain his place after overcoming rib and kidney injuries and personal commitments in America.

He said Couch trained with the Saints on Tuesday and would do likewise on Thursday.

Couch had indicated during a tribunal hearing in August that a serious injury suffered in the incident could end his playing days.

McLaren said Couch, whose partner is American tennis player Danielle Collins, had detailed his commitments outside of football when he signed with Koroit.

"He said 'I'll definitely miss the first week of finals and more than likely the second week'," he said.

"I guess at that time when he said 'I could be done here', if we went out early he would've been finished."

Koroit is confident key forward Jarrod Korewha, who was hurt in the second semi-final, would be fit to play at Reid Oval.

"Jarrod got a good, fair, heavy, hard tackle in the game and landed on his shoulder and neck," he said.

"He copped a bit of treatment between the injury and coming off the ground.

"The boys got into him a little bit. He actually pinched a nerve in his neck and it's pulling out of his shoulder but he's got no collar bone, AC or ligament damage.

"We were a bit worried (thinking) 'he's not coming good'. He didn't have much movement in his arm early last week but he's got through."

Saints ruckman Rhys Raymond (knee knock) will be available to play.

Dowie said James (shoulder) might need to undergo a fitness test.

"We've had the green light from Peter Brukner from Melbourne who is a really respected doctor," he said.

"Now we've just got to see how he pulls up. We've got to get through training.

"We've spoken to him about 'you've got to be honest'. You've got to be unselfish, you can't put your wishes in front of the team's.

"But we're pretty confident he'll be right."

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