The changes
IN: Koby Stevens, Jack Sinclair
OUT: Luke Dunstan (omitted), Ben Long (omitted)
What to expect
One area that the Saints have dramatically improved this season is their scoring efficiency when going inside forward 50.
Last year, they were ranked 13th in the competition, scoring on only 44.9% of their entries. But so far in 2017, they sit second-best in the league in this category, with 53.2% of their deliveries turning into scores.
This is helped by the fact that they are averaging the second most marks inside 50 at 14.2 per game, trailing only the Adelaide Crows, who average 17.6.
The Saints boast a forward line with multiple threats, with the ever-reliable Nick Riewoldt leading a band of promising, young forwards, in Tim Membrey, Josh Bruce, Jack Billings, Jade Gresham and Maverick Weller.
Despite their ability to score, the Saints have struggled to truly capitalize on their opportunities with many of their forwards struggling with wayward kicking in front of goal.
Membrey (7.5), Bruce (7.7), Billings (2.6), Weller (5.7) and Gresham (6.9) are all culpable for the Saints 16th best record in goal kicking accuracy across the competition (44.9%).
Another notable area that will be pivotal to Saturday’s clash is clearances, with the Saints being the worst clearance side in the league, averaging only 33.2 per game.
Interestingly, the Hawks are not much better, ranking 15th in the category.
Needless to say, whichever side is able to gain the midfield ascendancy on Saturday will go a long way towards winning this all-important clash.
Read: O'Meara comes into Hawks' Round 6 line up
Players to watch
Despite their collection of exciting, young talent, two familiar names remain as some of the key Saints that the Hawks will be keeping a keen eye on.
It was reported last week that the Saints are closing in on deals to re-sign decorated veterans Nick Riewoldt and Leigh Montagna, with the pair’s current form suggesting no signs of slowing down soon.
Amidst his 17th year, Riewoldt has continued to thrive in his late-career positional change to the midfield. Averages of 20.3 possessions, nine marks (club-high for the season), 2.3 tackles and 2.3 goals for nine goals on the year (club-high for the season) remain amongst some of his best season-highs in each respective statistic.
While Montagna’s season average of 25.3 disposals (third highest of any Saint) also figures comparably against that of the “prime” years of his career.
