Former teammates, ex-roomies and now very good friends – there is little Guy McKenna and Scott Watters have not shared in their AFL careers.

Now the former West Coast players have something else – the pressure of being an AFL coach.

Going into Sunday’s clash between St Kilda and Gold Coast Suns at Etihad Stadium, it is hard to tell who is most under the pump.

Watters is feeling the heat after just one game at the helm following the Saints’ four-point season-opening loss to last season’s second-last team Port Adelaide.

And McKenna is under the microscope after the second-year Suns appeared to be back to square one following their first round 69-point thumping at the hands of Adelaide.

It has ensured friendship will take a back seat on Sunday as Watters’ Saints look to dismiss fears they have become a spent force.

“I used to room with Bluey when we were at West Coast,” Watters said.

“We’re still good mates. We played footy together a long time ago, but we’ve both got jobs to do now.”

Losing to a 2011 minnow sparked speculation St Kilda had missed their premiership window – but midfielder Nick Dal Santo was having nothing of it.

“I wouldn’t look too much into those sorts of things,” he said.

“I thought we actually played pretty decent, a few little aspects probably cost us.

“Contested ball is a big issue that we need to work on as a midfield group and we gave away some sloppy free kicks which cost us.

“(But) Port Adelaide had a fantastic pre-season. They built themselves up for a big first game and that’s what they did, they will definitely improve this year.”

And he tipped the Suns to also be big improvers in 2012.

McKenna will certainly hope so.

Despite captain Gary Ablett grabbing 42 touches and booting two goals, the Suns were dominated in possessions, tackles and conceded 73 inside-50s to Adelaide.

The loss came after speculation McKenna would need at least six wins this season to have his contract renewed.

McKenna’s patience seemed to be tested after the crushing defeat.

“It’s a continual development with our boys and we are working towards that,” he said.

“(But) I can’t keep making excuses for the boys being young and overawed.

“Physically the boys have done the training but mentally they have to start thinking like men.”

McKenna wanted an immediate improvement on their starts – and didn’t think he was revealing too much to good mate Watters by saying it.

“I am sure Scott Watters given their last result he will be saying exactly the same thing – ‘interstate side, got a track record of giving early starts, it’s up to us to get on the front foot’,” McKenna said.

“We need to combat that, have the arm wrestle then make some ground on them.”