ST KILDA doesn't subscribe to the theory that teams out of finals contention have little to play for at this stage of the AFL season.

The Saints learned that lesson the hard way last weekend against lowly West Coast, and are determined not to drop another game to a side out of contention when they play Port Adelaide on Sunday at Telstra Dome.

Midfielder Luke Ball is hopeful the Saints' defeat to the Eagles was an aberration, and that they could beat one of their bogey sides of recent years.

Port have won 11 of the last 12 games between the sides.

But Ball said St Kilda would be taking nothing for granted against a young Power side, which has brought in debutantes Mitch Farmer and Nick Salter, and Paul Stewart for his eighth game, to replace te experienced Warren Tredrea, Troy Chaplin and Steve Salopek, who are all injured.

"People say at this time of the year sides put the cue in the rack and are looking forward to next year," Ball said.

"But on the flipside you've got these 17, 18-year-old guys who are coming in and really want to make their mark and make a good impression, so they're just as hungry as guys as who might have been playing for 10 years.

"So we're certainly not fooled by Port playing kids who haven't played before or guys who haven't played for a while."

Ball has been frustrated by St Kilda's inability to string four good quarters of football together in games, as the Saints blew a handy lead over the Eagles and paid the price.

"It showed on the weekend, despite West Coast's ladder position (15th) you take the foot off the pedal and you get the result," he said.

"So that's something we're trying to build towards."