Alarm bells are far from going off in Ross Lyon’s coaching box despite today’s defeat to Adelaide, with the senior backing his side to “get back on the horse” in time for next week.  

Sunday’s 52-point deficit marked the Saints’ biggest losing margin of the season following six and seven-point defeats over Collingwood and Port Adelaide respectively.

Although Lyon remains well aware of the “disappointing” aspects from the day, fervently emphasised his side’s second term which thrust them back in the contest after trailing by 31 points at the first change.

“They didn’t do anything we didn’t know they were going to do, so we expected to play better and perform better,” Lyon said in his post-game press conference.

“Our offence has gradually slipped down a little bit. I had a look at it and I think before today we were five points a week (different) to someone like Collingwood in our profile.

“I wouldn’t have thought it’s been that dramatic, although today was disappointing.

“I was pretty excited in the second quarter to be truthful. I thought we played aggressive, we exposed them when we won the ball and we went in. I think that’s indisputable.

“But one quarter doesn’t get it done, does it?”

A late goal conceded on the half-time siren had the margin at 28 points, before Adelaide wrestled back control with an emphatic and tidy five-goal response.

The Saints weren’t starved of opportunities throughout, but didn’t finish off their work; one mix-up midway through the term leaving a bemused Lyon with his head in his hands in the coaches’ box.

Adelaide’s return-serves throughout the day didn’t miss, booting 14 of its 19 goals from turnovers.

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“Early in the third we had some classic opportunities going in where we missed sitters early and then they just went bang, bang, bang. It got really difficult from there,” Lyon said.

“If you let go of the numbers, they beat us at contest. They popped and spread and we were disorganised compared relatively to what (we’ve been) over the journey of the season.”

St Kilda will be on the road for the second consecutive week to open Sir Doug Nicholls Round, coming up against GWS on Sunday afternoon.

Tim Membrey will remain in Victoria after suffering a concussion during the third term, but Lyon is hopeful Max King will tick the necessary boxes to make his return from injury. Jade Gresham will also be in the frame for a recall after being withdrawn from today's contest with a knee complaint.

Captain Jack Steele finished the match with ice on his knee following a "tweak", however is expected to be available against his former side.

“I’m really quite buoyant and optimistic we’ll get back on the horse and get going,” Lyon said.

“I’ve seen Brisbane come around and get smacked in the heat, and they’re going ok.

“Talk’s cheap, but we’ll get to find out next week.”