ST KILDA’S search for a key defender will be a priority for the club during the forthcoming trade and free agency periods.

The Saints have identified tall backmen as an area of need and are pursuing several players from rival clubs that could help fill the void.

The two who have been the most strongly linked to the Saints are Greater Western Sydney’s young defender, Josh Bruce and North Melbourne’s reliable backman, Luke Delaney.

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St Kilda head of football Chris Pelchen said talks with Bruce and the Giants were progressing well.

“There is genuine interest from Josh to join the Saints. He has indicated a strong desire to come to us and consequently we have commenced preliminary discussions with GWS,” Pelchen said.

Bruce has played 14 games in two years with the Giants, including 11 this year mainly as a key defender.

Originally from Eastlake in the ACT, Bruce stands 196cm tall and weighs 94kg.

Delaney has played 26 games in his three seasons with North Melbourne.

He arrived at the Kangaroos via pick 25 at the 2009 Rookie Draft and has showed plenty of promise in roles on Jonathan Brown and Tom Hawkins, among others.

“We’ve had some level of discussion with Luke’s management as he remains a player of some interest to us,” Pelchen said.

The Saints have also made inquiries about Bombers' midfielder David Myers but Pelchen said the club was respectful that Myers was still contracted to Essendon for 2014.

In the past two seasons the Saints have deliberately traded down from stand alone first round selections in the draft to bring in multiple players and picks for each selection. But Pelchen said that would not necessarily be the case this year with its first pick which stands at no. 3 overall.

“While we remain open-minded to trading in the 2013 AFL Trade Period, our pick three draft selection is off limits unless we received an extraordinary deal,” he said.

This year will be the first time since 2002 that the Saints have had a top five pick.