St Kilda has made two changes ahead of Saturday’s trip to south-east Queensland, with livewire forward Jack Lonie and transformed key defender Tom Lee returning to face the Gold Coast Suns.

Rebounding defender Jimmy Webster (hamstring) and utility Nathan Wright (shoulder) won’t face Rodney Eade’s side after suffering injuries in last Saturday night’s three-point win over Geelong.

Lonie hasn’t played since St Kilda’s big Round 8 loss against West Coast at Domain Stadium, but after being named emergency last weekend, the classy small forward comes in to replace the injured Wright.

The 19-year-old played seven of the first eight games before being omitted, but has earned another senior opportunity on the back of hauls of five and four hauls in the VFL in recent weeks.

Lee comes straight back into Alan Richardson’s side after missing the win over Geelong due to a knee strain. With the Suns forward line comprising budding superstar Tom Lynch, emerging spearhead Peter Wright and athletic tall Sam Day, the key defender’s return bolsters the Saints stocks down back.

Lynch’s brilliant start to the season has him on track for a maiden All Australian guernsey and with experienced key defenders Sam Fisher and Sean Dempster still sidelined, full back Luke Delaney and the back six will have a big job on their hands.

St Kilda has named in-form trio Eli Templeton, Brodie Murdoch and Jason Holmes as emergencies against the 16^th placed Suns, following eye-catching form at Sandringham.

On the back of one of his best games in red, white and black, defensive forward Mav Weller returns to Metricon Stadium to face his old side in what will be his 50^th appearance since being recruited to the Saints via the 2013 Rookie Draft.

Despite not winning a game since Round 3, Gold Coast has returned to form across the last month pushing reigning premiers Hawthorn in Tasmania last weekend, and before that Richmond and Sydney prior to the bye.

St Kilda will have spent plenty of time focusing on dual Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett this week after the Gold Coast captain produced the best performance of his year to date against the Hawks in Launceston.

The eight-time All Australian collected 40 disposals, 25 contested possessions and 15 clearances in one of his strongest showings since returning from a shoulder reconstruction last year.

In the last encounter between the two sides, St Kilda got on top in the opening half in Sam Fisher’s 200^th game at Metricon Stadium, before keeping Gold Coast at arms distance in the second half to win by 28-points.

Round 15 Team v Gold Coast
Metricon Stadium
Saturday, 2 July at 1.40pm

B: J. Geary, L. Delaney, D. Roberton
HB: J. Newnes, S. Gilbert, S. Savage
C: M. Weller, D. Armitage, L. Montagna
HF: T. Membrey, N. Riewoldt, D. Minchington
F: J. Gresham, J. Bruce, P. McCartin
R: T. Hickey, S. Ross, J. Steven
Interchange: L. Dunstan, B. Acres, T. Lee, J. Lonie
Emergencies: E. Templeton, B. Murdoch, J. Holmes

IN: T. Lee, J. Lonie
OUT: J. Webster (hamstring), N. Wright (shoulder)

Milestone: Maverick Weller (50 club games)