All roads lead to Marvel Stadium on Sunday as the Saints and Blues square off in a top-four blockbuster.

Get all the latest from Ross Lyon as a few star Saints put their hands up for selection.

Superstar matchup on the cards

Jack Steele’s likely return from a broken collarbone tees up a potential tantalising clash with Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps.

The opposing number 9s are tough as they come in the middle, with Lyon anticipating another fierce head-to-head contest between the two under the roof.

Ross says: “The specialists gave him (Steele) the extra clearance yesterday, so he’ll train today and Friday and play (on Sunday).

“He’ll probably go head-to-head with Cripps. I expect two great ball winners to go at it. Both will have their moments but it’s about our system against theirs.”

Youngster learns valuable lesson

Ross believes Anthony Caminiti’s three-match ban for an incident against Collingwood will serve as an important lesson for the emerging forward.

Caminiti has been a revelation early in the season, kicking seven goals in five games since earning an AFL lifeline late in pre-season, showcasing his bright future at the club.

Ross says: “It’s part of his learning curve. He’s been on the radar, he’s got plenty of press.

“Collingwood are a good team and they were hungry, they defended him strongly. There’s physical contact, sometimes as a forward you get buffeted a bit and you react. It’s how you react. It’s a good lesson for him to control what he can.”

Help is on the way

The man of Steele isn’t the only reinforcement firming for a Sunday return, with key forward Tim Membrey a strong chance to join him on the whiteboard.

The 28-year-old has missed the opening five rounds recovering from knee surgery but made a successful return through the VFL on Sunday to put his hand up for selection.

With Caminiti sidelined through suspension, a straight swap for the veteran forward is on the cards.

Ross says: “I think it’s more likely than unlikely (Membrey plays on Sunday). He got through (his VFL game) well.

“It’s been a great discovery tour for us with no King or Membrey…we’ve found out a fair bit about ourselves.”

Planning for a fierce Carlton

Both St Kilda and Carlton succumbed to their first losses of 2023 in Gather Round and will be hungry to bounce back in the sell-out top-4 clash.

The Blues boast weapons across the ground, most notably up forward where the last two Coleman medallists in Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay pose a serious threat.

Ross says pressure on the ball will be the key to quelling the Blues’ star duo.

Ross says: “Clearly they’re an incredibly talented list. We know they can beat you on sheer talent when Curnow, McKay, Cripps and Weitering get going…Walsh is back, he’s an incredible player, so we’ll prepare for the best of them.

“There’s not too many defences that can defend against the quality of Curnow and McKay unless you put pressure on the ball, so that will be our focus, pressure around the source.

“We know their absolute strength is their stoppage and contested ball…we know they’re going to be fierce in there.”

Team defence kicking goals

The Saints operate the stingiest defence in the AFL, ranking first for points against at a measly 59.4 per game.

Stand-in skipper, AKA ‘The Great Wall of St Kilda’, Callum Wilkie has led the way down back, charting first in the league in intercept marks.

Ross says: “Callum’s been really leading well in Steele’s absence and is having a good year.

“Our back six is playing well but it’s predicated on our team defence – we always look at all the threads together.”

New week, new look

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