Crows' coach Neil Craig was in awe of the Saints' 'frontal pressure', or pressure on the ball carrier, when the league leaders came to town in round two.
The home side held up well for three quarters of that game but crumbled in the last to go down by 32 points.
Adelaide has since ramped up its own 'frontal pressure' and ranks second in the AFL behind St Kilda in the number of inside-50s conceded his season.
The Crows have held three opposition teams goalless in first halves this season.
Last week, Fremantle managed only one goal from just 23 inside-50s in the lowest score ever recorded at AAMI Stadium.
On Tuesday, Symes predicted an intense battle under the roof of Docklands.
"Adelaide and St Kilda are probably two of the best teams in the competition at the moment in terms of contested ball and the ability to put pressure on opposition teams," Symes said.
"If we can put more pressure on them and force them to turn the ball over –like they did to us in round two— then it will hold us in pretty good stead."
The Saints have endured a draining past fortnight, including the round 14 blockbuster against Geelong and last week's hard-fought win over a resilient West Coast at Subiaco.
Symes denied St Kilda could be vulnerable this week, and said the game would give the Crows a preview of September.
"The way St Kilda play … that's what you're going to come up against in September. They base themselves on winning contested footy and the stuff that does get you through in finals," he said.
"It's our biggest game for the year. We're in some pretty good form, but St Kilda hasn't lost a game all year, so they're in some tremendous form.
"Everyone would like to be the first team to beat them and we're no different. We'd like to go out there and end their winning streak on the weekend."
The Crows will have to nullify the influence of potential All-Australian ruckman Michael Gardiner if they are to inflict the Saints' first loss of the season.
An injury-free Gardiner is finally delivering on his promise as a number one draft pick back in 1996, averaging 20 hit-outs, 10 disposals and a goal a game.
Adelaide, minus Brad Moran (knee), Shaun McKernan (knee) and with a rusty Jon Griffin, is likely to go with the combination of Ivan Maric and James Sellar against Gardiner.
St Kilda could also be bolstered by the return of Steven King, who is free to play after serving a four-match ban for rough conduct.
Symes said he was confident the inexperienced duo could do the job against the battle-hardened Saints.
"I think the boys have been growing pretty well. Ivan is improving week to week and James Sellar has come into the team over the past couple of weeks and been really intense around the footy. He's giving us something that we didn't have."
