St Kilda will complete their 2016 preparations late on Sunday afternoon at Etihad Stadium when the Saints face Melbourne in their final clash of the NAB Challenge series.

Following last Sunday’s cancellation in Mackay due to torrential rain, Alan Richardson has selected a near full strength side to prepare as best as possible ahead of the season-opener against Port Adelaide in a fortnight’s time.

Captain Nick Riewoldt is set to play his first game of the pre-season, along with experienced stars Leigh Montagna, David Armitage, Sam Fisher and Jarryn Geary.

Of that group, only Fisher and Montagna played in the intra-club, meaning the other three are appearing for their first formal practice match of the pre-season. Although all have had extensive exposure to match simulation on the track.

Full summer had Chips ready to go again

The return of Montagna and Armitage will see the Saints boast a full complement in the midfield, joining dual Trevor Barker Award winner Jack Steven, utility Sam Gilbert and a collection of talented young guns in Jack Billings, Seb Ross, Luke Dunstan, Jack Newnes, Blake Acres and Mav Weller.

Melbourne has named three of their prized off-season acquisitions, with 2015 No. 4 draft pick Clayton Oliver set for his third hit out of the pre-season, along with former Greater Western Sydney half-back Tom Bugg and Collingwood’s Ben Kennedy. All three have impressed in the last month, and appear set for a Round 1 berth.

After emerging as a bona-fide ruckman last season, Demons giant Max Gawn appears set to enter the top echelon of ruckmen in the game this season. The 211cm big man has accumulated 42 and 46 hit-outs in his two NAB Challenge appearances, as well as collecting a growing amount of ball, and looms as a tough task for Tom Hickey and Jason Holmes.

Bookends Jesse Hogan and Tom McDonald have also been included in Paul Roos’ squad, which will provide the Saints with difficult assignments at either end of the ground on Sunday afternoon.

Weight loss part of Riewoldt evolution

The return of Riewoldt, and the absence of emerging spearhead Paddy McCartin due to a hamstring strain, will result in the skipper and last year’s leading goal kicker Josh Bruce rekindling their partnership up forward.

Alongside those two, mobile forward Tim Membrey will play his first game after overcoming a shoulder reconstruction at the end of last season. The former Swan played 12 games in his first year at Linen House Centre.

Dylan Roberton and Nathan Wright are also set to return from injury, and would have done so last week had the game not been cancelled. Roberton suffered a minor ankle sprain in the intra-club, whilst Wright broke his little finger days before that.

2015 first-round draft pick Jade Gresham has been included in the Saints squad for a second appearance of the pre-season. Last year’s Northern Knights captain produced an eye-catching effort first up against North Melbourne in Wangaratta and could be in line for an early debut.

With only three players unavailable due to injury and Sandringham facing Frankston in a VFL practice match, almost the entire list will play at some level over the weekend.