Reigning Trevor Barker Award winner Jack Steven may have stamped himself as the best midfielder inside Linen House Centre in the last few seasons, but he knows he must get better if St Kilda is going to continue its rise back up the ladder.

The game-breaking onballer won his second best and fairest in 2015, adding the prize to his 2013 scalp.

But personal success is not what Steven covets, with the unassuming 25-year-old desperate for his side to improve this season, and improve rapidly.

“I’m as hungry as ever to get better,” Steven told aflplayers.com.au.

“I’ve got to get better; everyone’s got to get better so that we can become a better team. So (I’m) really excited for this year and can’t wait to get into it.

“We’ve got to catch some of the bigger teams. We’ve got a good young list, so they’re all enthusiastic and going nuts at the moment, which is awesome.’’

Following his breakout season in 2013, Steven suffered from a non-existent pre-season in 2014 due to a problematic foot injury which didn’t allow him to get the work in to his body that year.

Steven rebounded strongly last year, producing a stunning season in the Saints engine room to narrowly eclipse David Armitage for the Saints most prestigious accolade.

The Geelong Falcons product is confident Alan Richardson’s side can once again improve the pressure side of their game this season, an area that made the Saints far more threatening in 2015.

“We were really proud of our pressure last year and hopefully we just sustain that for longer this year and that will put us in with the chance to win a few more games,’’ Steven said.

“If we can keep that up for four quarters that will make us more competitive, hopefully.’’

St Kilda’s pre-season campaign heats up this week with the Saints holding a formal practice match at Sandringham on Friday night, ahead of the NAB Challenge series which commences the following weekend.