St Kilda has won two of its last five games against the Sydney Swans, including a stirring 28-point victory in round nine last year.

Westpac Stadium in Wellington will be the Saints fourth different venue against Sydney in their last five matches. In 2012 they went head-to-head at the SCG and Etihad Stadium, and faced off at ANZ Stadium the previous year.

In these five encounters, there has been one standout performer - Sydney co-captain Jarrad McVeigh.

The 2008 Swans best and fairest has collected 27 or more disposals in each of the last three weeks, and has a similarly strong recent record against the Saints.

Highest average disposals in last five St Kilda vs Sydney games:

The Saints and Swans have had exactly the same amount of total handballs in first four rounds of 2013; ranked equal fourth in the AFL.

Highest average handballs per game in 2013 (teams):

Leading the handball-happy charge for the Swans is strong-bodied playmaker Josh Kennedy, while Nick Dal Santo is handballing more than any other Saint in 2013.

Highest average handballs per game in 2013 (players):

Sydney is leading the clearance, contested possession and hit-out count in 2013, illustrating exactly how adept John Longmire’s men are at stoppages and in the clinches.

St Kilda is ranked 17^th for clearances, and 15^th for hit-outs. Limiting the Swans midfield access to the drop of the ball will be vital to the Saints hopes in Wellington.

The clearance count isn’t an accurate reflection of ladder position however, with the three unbeaten teams (Essendon, Geelong, Port Adelaide) all ranked in the bottom half of the ‘clearance table.’

Highest average clearances per game in 2013 (teams):

St Kilda’s disposal efficiency has been a highlight of the first month of the season, ranked first in the competition - hitting three out of every four targets cleanly via hand and foot.

Highest disposal efficiency in 2013 (teams):

Sydney had just 47 tackles last week, and will be committed to rectifying this on Thursday evening against the Saints.

If St Kilda can win the contested ball, hit their targets inside forward 50 and limit McVeigh and Kennedy’s influence, then they will be well positioned to become the first ever AFL team to claim four premiership points overseas.

You can follow Tom Morris on Twitter: @tommorris32