TRENT Dennis-Lane is confident St Kilda can cause some upsets in the second half of the season, if they can replicate the intensity from Sunday’s game.

“At 2-9, finals is probably out of the question,” the creative forward told SAINTS.com.au post-game.

“But I’m sure we can wreck a few other teams’ chances of slipping into the eight if we keep delivering performances like that.”

Dennis-Lane was content with his own performance against West Coast, collecting 13 disposals, booting one goal and laying three tackles. While his offensive efforts were excellent, defensively he was asked to limit one of the Eagles most prominent players.

“I was also trying to take care of Shannon Hurn … He’s obviously a damaging player for them with a big long kick so we tried to stop his influence, make him defend and hopefully kick a couple of goals on him,” he said.

Hurn finished with 14 touches from half-back and was well held by Dennis-Lane and a handful of other small forwards. It was an assignment that tested the 24-year-old’s running ability and endurance.

“[The role I played tonight] just requires good fitness and a bit of mental strength,” he said.

“Everyone is tired so when you defend them and then we get the ball back you just have to push them as hard as you can so that they don’t want to run back the other way if we turn it over.”

With 23 games under his belt, Dennis-Lane is committed to establishing himself in the senior line-up. Sunday was his fourth AFL game for his new team and his first since St Kilda’s historic round five match in New Zealand.

“Every time you make the step from VFL to AFL you just have to make sure you’re really clean with the footy otherwise you put yourself under unnecessary heat,” he said.

You can follow Tom Morris on Twitter: @tommorris32