ST KILDA captain Jarryn Geary has inked a contract extension to keep him at the club until the end of 2019.
He had been signed up until the end of 2018 before adding another year to the deal.
"It's always good to get those things out of the way early," Geary said at Seaford on Tuesday.
"It hasn't really been in the front of my mind … obviously the next two weeks is something that I'm really (focused on) and not looking too far into the future but it is really exciting to commit to the club for another couple of years and obviously get that out of the way."
The Saints have slim hope of making finals, sitting in 11th spot at 10-10 and with a percentage 96.1.
Geary acknowledged it was unlikely his side would make September action for the first time since 2011.
"Over the next couple of weeks we've got some improvement we need to have in a number of areas and that will be our focus, let's improve those things and if results go our way, we'll be happy," Geary said.
St Kilda's hopes of making the top eight were effectively dashed in last Sunday's 24-point loss to Melbourne, with a poor opening term making life tough.
Geary identified the factors his side needed to improve ahead of Sunday's clash with North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.
"More about our defence and our contest. They was pretty poor," Geary said.
"They smashed us around the ball and all over the ground. They outnumbered us around the ground, which is going to give you not too many opportunities to win the ball back off them. Then defensively, we weren't able to catch them, particularly early."
Former skipper Nick Riewoldt is expected to overcome concussion to play his last home game, ahead of the round 23 clash with Richmond at the MCG.
Tribute will be paid to Riewoldt, as well as another retired Saint.
"He's been a champion of the game, a champion of the football club and he deserves every pat on the back and accolade he gets," Geary said.
"I think they've got something planned for Sean Dempster as well, who obviously retired earlier on in the year."
Koby Stevens faces his own concussion test after he was involved in a head clash with young Demon Angus Brayshaw and there are no concerns of Jack Billings' left eye, which closed up in that game.
