Last Friday’s loss to Geelong all but ended St Kilda’s finals aspirations, but Saturday afternoon’s clash with GWS still holds significant importance for the Saints.

For one, while St Kilda remains a mathematical chance there is still a glimmer of hope and something to play for.

Secondly, the game marks Jack Steven’s 50th at AFL level, another sure sign that the Saints future is in good hands.

Lastly, this encounter will be the first between these two teams at AFL level, the quirks of the fixture meaning that both teams had to wait until the penultimate round of the season to face each other.

The Saints need to defeat GWS and then Carlton the following Sunday, as well as rely on Fremantle to lose to both North Melbourne and Melbourne in the next fortnight to have any hope of September action.

For GWS, who sit at the foot of the table, this clash provides yet another opportunity to blood their youngsters against some bigger bodies.

The Giants have played at Etihad Stadium just once this season, losing to Carlton in Round 6 by 67 points.  Their two other trips to Melbourne have seen losses to Melbourne (78 points) and more recently, Hawthorn (120 points). Both these games were played at the MCG.

In team news, Scott Watters has opted for youth to replace experience this Saturday. However, many of these changes are forced, with Sam Fisher (toe), Justin Koschitzke (soreness), David Armitage (soreness) and Adam Schneider (foot) all unavailable for selection.

Sebastian Ross will debut, while fellow youngsters Tom Ledger, Arryn Siposs, Terry Milera and Jack Newnes all look likely to return to the senior side.

Ross is the nephew of Essendon great Tim Watson, and cousin of current Bombers skipper Jobe Watson. He was St Kilda’s first selection in the 2011 national draft at pick 25 and is a classy left footer capable of playing in the midfield.

STAT FOCUS

1. Marking high
St Kilda average 94 marks per game, ranked fourth in the AFL. GWS average 82, higher than only Gold Coast and Sydney. Defender Sean Dempster has taken the most grabs in 2012 for the Saints (133), just eight ahead of Nick Riewoldt (125).
Much like Dempster for St Kilda, the Giant’s two leading mark takers are also defenders. Phil Davis (108 marks) and veteran Chad Cornes (100) proving to be thorns in the oppositions forward thrusts this season.

2. Third term dominance
The Saints have won 14 third terms this season, ranked equal second in the AFL. Contrastingly, GWS has struggled to maintain intensity past half time on a number of occasions, and as a result has won just one third quarter for the year, ranked 18th in the league.

3. Who will get the Greene light?
Who would have thought that a 179 centimetre 18 year old would have such a profound impact on the competition in his debut season? Midfielder Toby Greene has outshone many of his more experienced teammates in averaging 27.5 disposals per game this year, the highest by any 18 year old in the modern era.
Greene’s 38 possessions last week versus Melbourne in Canberra was the sixth time in the last seven games that he has collected 30 touches or more. Whether Scott Watters decides to put a hard tag on Greene or not will be one of the days’ most intriguing subplots.

4. Sharing the load
St Kilda has used 33 players this season, the second lowest in the AFL behind Sydney (31). Comparatively, GWS has handed games to the majority of its senior list, using 45 players - the most in the competition.
Despite a distinguished and highly experienced core group of players, Scott Watters has still managed to inject some youth into the team this season, with Ahmed Saad the most notable performer along with four other debutants.
Interestingly, Saad (22) could have ended up at GWS as he was pre-listed prior to the 2011 National Draft, before he, draft pick 25 and Terry Milera were traded to St Kilda in exchange for pick 20.

5. Player to watch: Stephen Milne
St Kilda’s leading goal-kicker in 2010 and 2011 looks almost certain to repeat the feat again this year. Currently sitting on 50 goals, the perennial goal-sneak will be even more crucial this weekend without the injured pair of Justin Koschitzke or Nick Riewoldt to feed off.
His four goal haul last Friday night was a snapshot of his Etihad Stadium highlights real, a performance that he will be looking to better against GWS given that he has never booted more than 57 majors in a season.

WHAT GWS SAY
Kevin Sheedy on the criticism that Israel Folau has been subjected to recently by Cameron Mooney: (Folau has been omitted this week)
“Mooney’s average disposals in first year for North Melbourne in 1999 were 3.3 compared to Izzy 5.9 his first year.”
“Mooney had 29 hitouts and took 14 marks in 1999. Izzy has had 61 hitouts and taken 20 marks so far this year; all this in a side that has won two games as opposed to a premiership. By my calculations Izzy has had a better debut year than Mooney.”

LAST TIME THEY MET
This is the first meeting between the two clubs.

THANK YOU 2012 SAINTS MEMBERS
This Saturday has been coined ‘Thank you’ Round, aimed at recognising the 2012 St Kilda Football Club members.
Most notably, the Saints will wear a slightly different guernsey against GWS, one which carries the names of 1267 members. Aside from this, various other activities including a pre-game ‘Legends Match’ have been organised to thank the members for their continued support in 2012.