Star Bombers Jobe Watson, Michael Hurley, Brent Stanton, Dustin Fletcher and Dyson Heppell are set to play their first games of the year against the Saints, and Hird said the club had been assured the ground will be up to AFL standard.
""It looks pretty wet up there, but we've been assured and guaranteed that the ground will be fantastic,"" Hird said on Friday.
""We're 100 per cent going to Wangaratta and playing the game. And I'm sure if it's not safe, the game won't be played.
""I saw a photo of the ground at four o'clock yesterday afternoon and it looked absolutely beautiful. We're looking forward to getting up there and we're very hopeful it goes ahead.""
Hurley will return from a hamstring injury suffered at the start of the January, and will likely play a half to three quarters of the game with St Kilda. Hird said the 21-year-old's rehabilitation program had been managed cautiously.
""We actually had pencilled in two weeks ago against West Coast [that Hurley would play] but we took it a bit slower than we originally thought,"" he said.
""If there was a game last weekend he would've played, but this weekend is the game he ends up playing. He's been back training fully for four weeks, so he's ready to go.""
Hird said Heath Hocking (bone bruising) and Jason Winderlich (knee) would return against the Sydney Swans next week at Etihad Stadium, with Winderlich close to facing the Saints.
