ST KILDA needs to fix its early clearance work to upset West Coast on Sunday, says coach Alan Richardson. 

The Saints have lost clearances by an average of just under three per game, ranking them 12th in the competition this year. The Eagles are the seventh-best team for moving the ball away from stoppages. 

Richardson attributed losing the inside battle as the reason for his team's slow starts. 

"Individuals have improved in there (at clearances) but as a collective, we still haven't been quite able to get it done. In particular, first quarters," he said on Saturday. 

"We got smashed by the Demons but we were good enough to be able to continue to play strongly and get over the line. 

"(We) got smashed in the first quarter last week against the Kangaroos. We were good after quarter-time. 

"It's only small things, but things we can control and we need to improve." 

Midfielders Jack Steven and David Armitage are both in the top 15 for clearances per game.

The Saints haven't led at the opening break in any of their past four games despite beating Melbourne and pushing heavyweights North Melbourne and Hawthorn in tight contests during that time.

"We haven't been great in first quarters. That's not going to be good if we're struggling away from home, in front of their (West Coast’s) crowd," Richardson said.

The coach said the recent close losses didn’t appear to have dinted morale, although he acknowledged the potential for the players' spirits to dip. 

"Possibly, but I'm not sensing that (morale falling)," he said.

"There's been areas that we need to work on and we've made sure we've addressed that." 

Richardson also revealed that captain Nick Riewoldt's left knee is in its best condition for several years. 

Riewoldt, 33, had previously struggled with a degenerative joint in the knee.

His coach said that was no longer as much of a concern.

"Things have changed with him. His body is much better. In particular, his knee is in really good shape. He's pulling up really positively each week," Richardson said. 

"I don't really understand (why) - the doctors say that whatever it is that caused the swelling has burnt out. That doesn't sound overly positive, but in this case, it is."

Riewoldt has moved to the wing this season and is in brilliant form. He is No.1 in the competition for marks per game and has tallied a combined 30 marks and six goals in the past two weeks.