FREMANTLE midfielder Nick Lower believes St Kilda is on the verge of clicking into action and playing its best football when the sides clash at Patersons Stadium on Saturday.
The 13th-placed Saints notched just their second win for the season against Melbourne in round nine, with stars Brendon Goddard and Nick Riewoldt finding form.
Lower said Fremantle, which will need to overcome the loss of star ruckman Aaron Sandilands, would have to be on-guard against the beaten grand finalists of the past two seasons.
"You can't underestimate the Saints - they played in two grand finals last year and they've been a fantastic club for a number of years," Lower said from Fremantle Oval on Friday.
"On the back of a win they're capable of doing anything [so] we're really going to have to be on our game and put a lot of time and effort into them this week.
"They've got some fantastic players in their side."
Former Adelaide ruckman Jon Griffin has been selected to make his Fremantle debut on Saturday, replacing Sandilands, who will be sidelined for four weeks with ligament damage in a toe.
Fremantle has a 0-5 record without Sandilands since 2008, but Lower said Griffin, who has averaged more than 36 hit-outs in seven WAFL games this season, was a solid replacement.
"Jonathan Griffin's obviously played a lot of games at the Crows and held the No.1 ruck spot over there for quite a number of years," he said.
"We're looking forward to 'Griff' coming into the side. He's played some great footy at WAFL level, so it's a really exciting time for the club to see what he can do.
"Griff's played a few pre-season games and is all over what Aaron does and is very capable of doing the same thing.
"From where we stand nothing really changes at all."
Lower has made an outstanding start to his second stint in the AFL, after Fremantle recruited him with pick No.30 in the 2011 NAB AFL Rookie Draft.
The 23-year-old played 20 games over four seasons with Port Adelaide before being delisted at the end of 2009, and he starred against his old club in round nine, finishing with 28 possessions and a goal in the 52-point win at AAMI Stadium.
Lower said he had relished the opportunity to play as a midfielder this season after being used as a back pocket for the Power.
"It's been fantastic and I'm really enjoying the club," he said.
"I'm really appreciative of the faith they've shown in me, having had a year out of the system.
"It was probably a pretty tough call for them to pick up a mature-age recruit, so I owe a lot to the club."
Lower joined Fremantle's other first-year players at the 2011 HBF Bravery Awards on Friday, recognising the courage shown by 12 young people and their families when faced with health challenges.
Nathan Schmook covers Fremantle news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_NSchmook
