Having arrived in New Zealand on Tuesday ahead of their second match at the venue, the Saints are banking on a vocal 'home' crowd and an edge in local knowledge at the unique stadium known as the Cake Tin.
Captain Nick Riewoldt said there had been more awareness of St Kilda this year as the players promote Australian Football on the streets, and he hoped that would translate to support on Friday night.
"Seeing as though we're going to be playing a game here every year, we'd like to think the majority of the vocal support would be on our side … it's our home game," Riewoldt said on Thursday.
"We've had the opportunity to have three or four training sessions now over a two-year period and we played here last year so we're familiar with the conditions.
"[The ground] is a little bit smaller so it's probably SCG like from that point of view.
"Last year the conditions were a little bit tricky. It was greasy and it was a bit windy."
The majority of the Lions' squad arrives in Wellington on Thursday afternoon and will train at Westpac Stadium before its first match at the venue.
St Kilda coach Alan Rchardson said his group had been conscious of finding the right balance of preparation and promoting the game while in Wellinton this week.
"We're playing a game of footy," he said.
"We need to keep our part of the bargain from a playing group point of view in terms of making sure we prepare really strongly and stay focused.
"Last week was a real positive for us. It would be disappointing through lack of professionalism with some other things going on if we dropped the ball.
"I'd be surprised if our guys weren't at the same level and ready to go."
The Saints included Sam Fisher in their travelling squad, but the defender will need to prove his fitness at training on Thursday afternoon, having played one VFL match in his return from a hamstring injury.
"On the flight over we were pretty optimistic but he has pulled up a little bit stiff," Richardson said.
"We'll give him every opportunity. He's a great player."
The Saints will be without suspended forward Adam Schneider and Richardson said he was considering a like-for-like replacement.
"We brought over Trent Dennis-Lane and (Shane) Savage so we're certainly thinking that way," he said.
"Seb Ross was our sub last week so we're a chance to bring him into the game in a more meaningful way.
"We're really happy with the forward group.
"This is going to be a very heated game in terms of contests because of the size of the venue, so I think it would be pretty similar in terms of how we go."
