St Kilda will begin its NAB Challenge campaign with a side stacked full of youth on Saturday against North Melbourne in Wangaratta.

Of the 26-man side that will face the Kangaroos at the scenic Norm Minns Oval, 15 have played 25 games or less of senior football, with three players yet to debut at AFL level, including last year’s first-round pick Jade Gresham.

The clubs two first-round picks from 2014 – Paddy McCartin and Hugh Goddard – will both get an opportunity to put their cases forward for a berth in Alan Richardson’s round one side, after the pair played six and eight games respectively in their debut season.

In the absence of the clubs longest serving Captain Nick Riewoldt, 22-year-old leadership group member Jack Newnes will assume the captaincy responsibility in a strong indication of his standing within the four walls of Linen House Centre.

“‘Newnesy’ will be the leader,” Richardson told the media ahead of St Kilda’s opening NAB Challenge encounter.

“Not unlike last year when ‘Rooey’ missed our leaders get together and have a conversation on who should lead the team.

“They’ve done that and ‘Newnsey’s’ earned the right to lead the team. We think he’s had a really strong pre-season.”

Experienced Saints Sean Dempster, Sam Gilbert and Jack Steven will face the Kangaroos to help provide some experience to a young St Kilda outfit that will be coached by Director of Coaching and Development Danny Sexton.

North Melbourne has sent a strong squad to northern Victoria including star midfielders Jack Ziebell, Ben Cunnington, Brent Harvey, Shaun Higgins and Captain Andrew Swallow, as well as former Saint Farren Ray and off-season recruit Jed Anderson, who crossed from Hawthorn.

The Saints back six will have their work cut out stopping a high quality North Melbourne forward line comprising Drew Petrie, Jarrad Waite, Aaron Black, Lindsay Thomas and Harvey and Higgins when they push forward.

With Sam Fisher missing, Sean Dempster will lead an inexperienced back six, providing Goddard and Tom Lee with an opportunity to put their hands up for a spot in St Kilda’s round one side.

At the other end of the ground, Josh Bruce and McCartin will get another chance to develop their partnership close to goal. The pair looked potent in last week’s intra-club, and with Riewoldt missing, they will be looking to continue to build their synergy together.

After playing in the final three games of 2015, American import Jason Holmes gets an early opportunity to demonstrate how he has come on over the summer months. The athletic ruckman will partner Tom Hickey against a North Melbourne midfield that doesn’t include All Australian ruckman Todd Goldstein.