A WIN against a top-eight side would boost St Kilda’s confidence, but Saints coach Alan Richardson says his team is relishing the opportunity to face ladder-leaders Geelong.
St Kilda is yet to defeat a team in the top eight this season, but ran Hawthorn to three points in round four and North Melbourne to seven points in round seven.
On the flip side, interstate trips to play West Coast in round eight and Adelaide in round 11 saw losing margins of 103 and 88 points respectively.
"I think it's important. The two interstate teams, where we've had our poorest performances, pretty early on when that team has had momentum, we've fallen away from playing our way," Richardson said at Moorabbin on Friday.
"There is the potential that if we get over the line against the Hawks in Tasmania or the Kangaroos, that there's possibly a little bit more belief from the group.
"We've spoken about that. I think we've addressed that in terms of identifying what it is that happens to us when we fall away badly against those sorts of teams.
"That's the excitement for us this week against the Cats, that we get the opportunity."
The players took part in their final training session before the clash against the Cats on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium.
Conditions at Moorabbin were in stark contrast to the indoor stadium, with those on the field wearing beanies and jackets to combat the coldest June day in Melbourne since 1998.
Emergencies Jack Lonie and Lewis Pierce took part in the session.
The Saints enter the clash without key defenders Sam Fisher (hamstring), Sean Dempster (knee) and Tom Lee (knee).
Tom Hawkins looms as a major threat, with the big man having booted 28 goals this year.
Richardson is confident his side's defensive structures will cope with Geelong's attack, and forecast Sam Gilbert spending more time in the backline.
"We do have preferred match-ups but fundamentally, our backs will defend as a unit," Richardson said.
"Gilbert – we've played a bit more through the midfield this year – he'll need to go back.
"(Luke) Delaney gets an opportunity. I thought he was really positive against (Carlton's Levi) Casboult, who's as good a marking forward as there is in the game.
"He'll clearly be deeper, and that's likely to be on Hawkins."
Lee came close to being available and the Saints hope he will return the following week. He hurt his left knee against the Blues a fortnight ago.
Cats superstar Patrick Dangerfield has racked up a combined 85 disposals and 23 inside-50s in the past fortnight against the Kangaroos and the Western Bulldogs
Richardson said the Saints would back their midfield to stop the Cats.
"We'll continue to play our way. We rarely tag. We have the option to go that way if need be. (Maverick) Weller's certainly done some of us for that in the past. He's playing really strong footy for us in front of the ball," the coach said.
"We need to make sure that we curb his, and others', influence. (Joel) Selwood's flying under the radar a little bit. He's been in outstanding form."
