St Kilda spearheads Nick Riewoldt and Paddy McCartin will return against Geelong on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium after Alan Richardson made two changes to the side that beat Carlton prior to the bye.

Key defender Tom Lee won’t face the Cats after suffering a knee injury against the Blues, while ruckman Lewis Pierce has been squeezed out of the Saints line-up after making his debut against Carlton.

Recently re-signed Captain Riewoldt comes back into the senior setup after missing last week due to a minor knee injury. The six-time Trevor Barker Award winner bolsters the Saints’ experience, with veteran defenders Sam Fisher and Sean Dempster still at least a fortnight away from returning from injury.

McCartin also returns after a one-game absence following the head knock he suffered in the big loss in Adelaide in Round 11. The 2014 No. 1 pick inclusion’s a major boost for the Saints attack, particularly given the potency of Geelong’s back six, which contains premiership stars Corey Enright, Andrew Mackie, Harry Taylor, Tom Lonergan and off-season recruit Lachie Henderson.

In the absence of Riewoldt and McCartin a fortnight ago, mobile key forward Tim Membrey continued his stellar emergence, booting 5.1 from ten marks to help steer the Saints to victory over Carlton.

St Kilda’s midfield will face the hardest test in the game when they combat superstar duo Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood under the roof on Saturday night. The pair sits right at the top of Brownlow medal odds following their breathtaking starts to the year.

Star midfielder Jack Steven emerges this side of the bye in a rich vein of form, with the reigning best and fairest winner averaging career-high numbers across the first half of 2016. The speedster has been well supported by David Armitage, Luke Dunstan and Seb Ross in the engine room.

Ross, 23, plays his 50th game on the weekend, along with rebounding defender Jimmy Webster. After an injury ravaged start to 2015, Ross reaches the milestone on the back of the most prosperous period of his career. The midfielder has been the most improved player at St Kilda this season, averaging 26.6 possessions, 4.7 inside 50s and 4.4 clearances.

With Fisher, Dempster, Lee and Hugh Goddard all sidelined due to injury, key defender Luke Delaney is poised for the enormous task on powerhouse forward Tom Hawkins. The two-time premiership star returned from suspension in fine form last weekend, booting 4.0 to help lead the Cats dispose of the Western Bulldogs.

The Saints haven’t beaten Geelong since the 2010 qualifying final, although the last time the two sides met, the game finished in a draw at Etihad Stadium in Round 21 last season.

Limited Edition History Book: Celebrating 50 Years 1966-2016 The Archives Edition

Round 14 Team v Geelong
Etihad Stadium
Saturday 23, June at 7.25pm

B: J. Geary, L. Delaney, D. Roberton
HB: J. Newnes, S. Gilbert, J. Webster
C: L. Montagna, D. Armitage, S. Savage
HF: M. Weller, N. Riewoldt, J. Gresham
F: D. Minchington, J. Bruce, T. Membrey
R: T. Hickey, S. Ross, J. Steven
Interchange: L. Dunstan, B. Aces, P. McCartin, N. Wright
Emergencies: J. Lonie, J. Sinclair, L. Pierce

IN: N. Riewoldt, P. McCartin
OUT: T. Lee (knee), L. Pierce (omitted)

Milestones: J. Webster (50 games), S. Ross (50 games)

Experience this Saturday’s game in the comfort of the Premier Lounge