Four straight wins could become five on Friday night for St Kilda as they make their way into the nation’s capital to take on Greater Western Sydney.

The Saints are coming off the back of a hard-fought victory over the Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium, while the Giants will be keen to bounce back after going down to Melbourne last week.

With the possible return of a veteran defender, plus a plethora of impressive performance in the VFL, St Kilda have some healthy selection dilemmas facing them before Friday night in Canberra.

Jimmy Webster

After missing last week due to AFL Health & Safety Protocols, Jimmy Webster will be raring to go should he be selected.

Since the start of 2021, the 117-game Saint has emerged as a key pillar of the St Kilda defensive structure, working across half-back as a connector between the backline and midfield.

With the return of Toby Greene likely for Friday night, the Saints will be looking to bring in some stability down back in the form of Webster, with the 28-year-old even a chance to line-up on the dangerous small forward.

Ryan Byrnes

Handed the medical sub vest for the past two weeks, Ryan Byrnes will be keen to work his way into the starting 22 against GWS.

The 20-year-old midfielder has gone unused against both Hawthorn and the Gold Coast, following an impressive display in the VFL three weeks earlier where he picked up 23 disposals and booted a goal in a strong win.

Byrnes has appeared for the Saints twice this season, against both Collingwood and Fremantle and will be looking to add to his 2022 tally this week against the Giants.

Jack Bytel

Following a strong outing for Sandringham on Saturday, St Kilda may be tempted to bring some further grunt into their midfield through Jack Bytel.

The third-year Saint had a solid day out against the Gold Coast in the VFL, grabbing 27 disposals, seven clearances, five tackles and a goal.

Bytel is yet to appear in the red, white and black this season, having endured an interrupted pre-season due to a calf injury, but after impressing for the Zebras in his three games thus far, Brett Ratten may hand the 22-year-old his 17th game of AFL footy.

In Contention

While the St Kilda defensive stocks are set to be bolstered by the return of Jimmy Webster, Brett Ratten may also look to bring in the high-flying Tom Highmore.

The Canberra native has dropped down the pecking order with the return of small defender Ben Paton and Josh Battle moving down back, but his intercept marking ability means that the Saints could look to select him to return to the line-up in his home city once more.

Mitch Owens is another who would be keen to break back into the senior side following his Round 1 debut earlier this season.

The PURA Next Generation Academy graduate has turned heads during his short time at RSEA Park, offering explosion and power in the middle of the ground.

Joining Owens with impressing Batchelor is Max Heath, who stood out in just his third game of VFL football in another promising output from the youngster.

Kicking three goals to go along with 16 disposals and 28 hit-outs, the 18-year-old is viewed as a long-term prospect with this breakout game a stepping-stone in his development

Heath was taken in the 2021 mid-season draft and only debuted for the Zebras this season after completing his year 12 studies last year.