At a glance:

• Josh Battle is one of many Saints fighting for a spot in St Kilda's best 22.
• The return of veteran defenders through injury, emerging forward talent and a raft of recruits has complicated the puzzle.
• Battle has played 26 games after making his debut as an 18-year-old.

If you are searching for evidence of why the Saints’ best 22 has never been more difficult to select, look no further than Josh Battle. 

Before Seb Ross and Jade Gresham were late withdrawals in the final Marsh Series game against Collingwood, the highly talented 21-year-old wasn’t included in the Saints’ 24-person squad. 

This comes after a breakout season in defence, as the Saints tried to overcome the absences of injured Jake Carlisle, Dylan Roberton, Jarryn Geary and Jimmy Webster. 

 Despite an excellent final quarter playing as a lead-up forward against the Magpies, Battle is no certainly to be in the Round 1 side with a host of Saints lining up for spots. 

The likes of Nicholas Hind, Nathan Brown, Ed Phillips, Shane Savage, Jono Marsh and Matty Parker are others trying to force their way in, with Gresham, Ross and Carlisle also likely to return. 

A logjam of accomplished defenders, the rise of young talent including Max King, and an injury-free list provides coach Brett Ratten with more options than the Deliveroo app on a Friday night. 

With the emergence of Hunter Clark and Callum Wilkie in 2019, the return of senior players from injury and the rise of Ben Long as a defensive weapon over summer, the Saints backline is suddenly jam-packed with talent. 

Wilkie and Dougal Howard were the linchpins against the Magpies with Carlisle sitting out of the game for family reasons, while Webster was also managed with shoulder soreness. 

Nick Coffield and Ben Paton looked assured during the pre-season and would also be unlucky to be left out, but can they oust Roberton and Geary for a berth? 

The addition of Zak Jones, Bradley Hill and the return of Dan Hannebery also piles on the pressure for midfield minutes. 

Hill’s presence on a wing, potentially playing opposite Jack Billings, with Hannebery and Jones rotating through, adds amazing depth to St Kilda's on-ball brigade. 

With Gresham also expected to spend more time in the centre square, and Jack Steele and Luke Dunstan at their ferocious best through the pre-season, suddenly the squeeze for spots has begun. 

King, Paddy Ryder and Tim Membrey look highly likely to fill the key forward posts, leaving Dan Butler, Jack Lonie, Dean Kent, Hind and Parker to battle it out for a place in the Saints’ small forward fleet. 

Battle’s versatility has seen him train with the midfield group this pre-season, while last Sunday proved he hasn’t lost his touch as an attacking forward option.  

In Ratten’s words, Battle is the “ultimate swingman”. 

But how does he fit into the selection puzzle? 

Have your say in who makes St Kilda’s best 22 for Round 1 to go in the running to win a $500 Deliveroo voucher.