PUSHING up into a leadership role and filling the breach left by the retired Lenny Hayes is on young St Kilda midfielder Seb Ross' agenda for 2015.

The 21-year-old wants to help shape the club's future as it moves into its new era.

After playing 13 games in his third season and developing his inside game, Ross now wants to step up and take on more ownership of the on-field side of things.

"It is something I'm interested in, [being in the leadership group]," Ross said.

"It would be something I would really need to work on.

"I'm not one to really get up in front of the group and make a big speech but I think I try and show leadership with my actions and how hard I work but it's definitely something I want to aspire to."

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Shortly before the Saints broke for the festive season, coach Alan Richardson challenged the likes of Ross, Jack Newnes and Tom Curren to be the difference in the team's performance next season.

All are performing well this pre-season and have been recording solid results in the time trials and at the pre-season camps. 

Along with increasing his leadership, Ross wants to make sure he capitalises on the inroads he made as an inside midfielder in 2014.

Ross showed he had the tools for the job and got stronger at the clearances as the season progressed, before signed a new contract in September that ties him to the Saints until the end of 2016.

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He said he knew it was up to him and his contemporaries to ensure Hayes' absence didn't hinder the team come round one.

"I did enjoy it, [being on the inside]. I guess the pre-season is a good opportunity to keep building on the base that I had last year, especially with Lenny leaving that gap in the midfield," he said.

"It gives blokes like myself and Luke Dunstan and Mav [Weller] more opportunity as well as we need to step up to fulfil Lenny's role.

"The onus is on us a bit to really have a good pre-season and come out firing because Lenny has left a pretty big hole.

"It gives us motivation to fill it."

Seb Ross tackles Marcus Bontempelli in 2014.