Alan Richardson may have handed the reins to Danny Sexton for this weekend’s opening NAB Challenge game, but according to St Kilda’s Director of Coaching and Development the transition should keep business as usual on Saturday.

As the longest serving member in St Kilda’s coaching structure, Sexton has worked in a variety of roles for nearly a decade, but for the first time he will sit in the senior coach’s hot seat on game day.

With the Saints making no change to last year’s coaching staff, Sexton believes the settled nature in that area of the football department will ensure a smooth transition in personnel against North Melbourne, with the same message only coming from a different voice.

“It will be business as usual. The coaches’ box tends to function pretty smoothly. It will be different having Alan on the bench but it will be good for him having a look at it from ground level, but the coaches’ box will function as normal,” Sexton told saints.com.au on Thursday morning.

“We’re really settled as a group. We didn’t make any changes to our coaching staff (at the end of last season). So that’s a good thing for us coaches, it’s a good thing for the group. So the players are really comfortable with the coaches that we have.

“I’ll assume the responsibility of the final team meeting and addressing the players before and during the breaks. Aside from that, there will be plenty of sets of eyes on the game. Everyone in the box has really structured roles.

“It is good for Alan to hand over the reins this week and for Adam [Kingsley] next week. It’s a good experience for us; hopefully we can do the job well and contribute towards the hopeful success of the team in the first couple of games.”

St Kilda announced on Tuesday the decision to provide Sexton and Senior Assistant Coach Adam Kingsley with the opportunity to further their personal development during the NAB Challenge series by taking the keys to the side.

Kingsley will assume the responsibility in a fortnight’s time when the Saints travel to Mackay to face the Brisbane Lions in their second clash of the pre-season.