HIGH-FLYING West Coast is guarding against complacency and Jack Redden doubts any Eagles will put their hand up for a rest ahead of Saturday night's clash with battling St Kilda. 

The Eagles have won nine straight and have a golden opportunity to enter the bye a win clear on top of the ladder when they host the Saints.

Coach Adam Simpson admitted West Coast had some sore players after a grinding 15-point win over Hawthorn, but with fierce competition for spots and the chance to strengthen their grip on a prized top-two spot, Redden thought it unlikely any teammates would volunteer for a rest.

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"It's important we finish off strong before the bye," he said.

"It's important we field the best team we can and put the best 22 on the park each week.

"We need to keep the momentum going and keep building our game."

Redden continued his strong patch of form with 25 touches and five clearances against the Hawks.

After a difficult first 18 months as an Eagle following his trade from Brisbane at the end of 2015, the tough onballer said there was no way he wanted a break this weekend.

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"If it's best for the team you'd do it, but personally I'm feeling really good at the moment and want the consistency," Redden said.

Against all expectations, the Eagles are among the premiership favourites and closing in on their best-ever winning streak of 12 games from the start of the 1991 season. 

Redden said West Coast's players hadn't talked about breaking that record or setting targets for the rest of 2018, intent only on getting the job done against the 16th-placed Saints.

"St Kilda probably haven't had the start they wanted but they had a good performance on the weekend against Richmond, the reigning premiers," he said.

"They've still got some quality players and they're due for a win, so it's probably a big game for them.

"We need to bring our best game."

In the wake of Willie Rioli patting Ray Chamberlain on the hip, Redden said players were aware touching umpires was taboo.

Rioli had just dropped his knees into Blake Hardwick and acknowledged his mistake, before becoming the fifth player to touch an umpire since round four.

"It's a bit of a funny one at the moment, it's in the spotlight and it's surprising that it's happened every week since it's been in the spotlight," Redden said.

"I think that one was pretty innocent and I think he acknowledged he'd done the wrong thing in the first place with the knee. 

"It's a tough one, you can't touch umpires, but there was (nothing) malicious in it.

"I think we're all human and we're trying to work together with the umpires."