It’s been a tough month in terms of the draw for the Saints. They’ve had to face three of the top four teams (Hawthorne, Geelong and Sydney) and have lost each of the last four games by an average of 59 points.

They’ll appreciate the drop in quality of their opponents this week and have been installed slender favourites in early markets.

Sitting sixteenth on the ladder with three wins this season, compared to the Suns who have won seven and sit in fourteenth, it’s hard to be attracted to the $1.78 on offer, especially when the Suns lead Saints in a majority of season stats.

They last met in the opening round of this year where the Suns were victorious, their first win in four matches against St. Kilda, 90 – 77.

Gold Coast’s victories this year have been sparked by Gary Ablett who, in more recent weeks, has been well marked and had his involvement in the game limited.

This is the key for St. Kilda but you wonder how many “quiet” weeks Ablett has in him before he unleashes a performance that sees him worthy of his short priced Brownlow Medal favouritism.

Only two of Gold Coast’s wins have come away from Metricon Stadium this year and they were over GWS and Melbourne however, they were competitive enough against both West Coast and last week Port Adelaide in their two most recent away games, to suggest they’re a winning chance here.

TIP: Gold Coast 1 – 39

Odds comparison by AFL Odds:

St Kilda Saints	1.83	1.77	1.75	1.77	1.83	1.85
Gold Coast Suns	1.97	2.05	2.08	2.05	1.97	1.98

Teams:

St Kilda Saints:
B: Jack Newnes, Jason Blake, Jarryn Geary
HB: Sean Dempster, Sam Gilbert, Farren Ray
C: David Armitage, Lenny Hayes, Leigh Montagna
HF: Sebastian Ross, Nick Riewoldt, Clinton Jones
F: Stephen Milne, Tom Lee, Tom Curren
Foll: Tom Hickey, Nick Dal Santo, Jack Steven
I/C: Josh Saunders, Darren Minchington, Ben McEvoy, Cameron Shenton, Tom Ledger, Brodie Murdoch, Adam Schneider

In: C.Shenton, T.Ledger, B.Murdoch, L.Hayes
Out: D.Roberton (rested)

Gold Coast Suns:
B: Trent McKenzie, Steven May, Luke Russell
HB: Greg Broughton, Rory Thompson, Tom Murphy
C: Harley Bennell, Gary Ablett, Jarrod Harbrow
HF: Jacob Gillbee, Jared Brennan, Andrew Boston
F: Timmy Sumner, Charlie Dixon, Aaron Hall
Foll: Daniel Gorringe, Danny Stanley, Dion Prestia
I/C: Leigh Osborne, Jackson Allen, Michael Rischitelli, Liam Patrick, Karmichael Hunt, Josh Hall, Jaeger O’Meara

In: J.Brennan, M.Rischitelli, L.Patrick, L.Osborne, J.Gillbee, K.Hunt
Out: J.Hutchins (hamstring), D.Swallow (knee), S.Tape (concussion)