At a glance:

• Bradley Hill has opened up on how his current dip in form has him feeling the most pressure he's experienced at senior level.
• The 27-year-old was one of the Saints' best performers in the pre-season before a quiet fortnight against Melbourne and Essendon.
• Brett Ratten has backed in Hill to bounce back in the coming weeks.

Bradley Hill has opened up on how his current dip in form has him feeling the most pressure he’s experienced at senior level.

"Sometimes it can be a little bit difficult. I probably haven't had this sort of pressure on me before,” Hill said on Yokayi Footy.

"It hasn't been the start I wanted to (have) and I've got to get back to that work-rate that I have and getting up and down the ground and working hard both ways.”

Hill came under-fire for his outing against the Demons two weeks ago – where he went at less than 40 per cent efficiency by foot – before a quieter outing in Saturday’s 75-point loss to Essendon.

It was just over a month ago when the triple-Premiership player was nearing the form which made him such a dangerous asset to the Hawks and Dockers.

Hill collected 25 touches at 88 per cent efficiency, nine inside-50s and a whopping 849 metres gained in the Saints’ AAMI Community Series match against Carlton, and just two weeks later, was particularly clean (17 disposals at 81 per cent) coming up against GWS in miserable conditions.

“I think maybe the scrutiny was a little bit hard for him last week – there (were) a lot of players who were down,” senior coach Brett Ratten said at this morning’s press conference.

“I reckon we’ve all been in that boat as players and we’ve had days where everything you touch doesn’t work for you.

“He’s a player that we need to perform well – and he can – and he’s ready. Sometimes just simplifying the game is the best for everybody, and I think he’ll do that and respond.”

Hill shapes as an important asset for Saturday’s match against the Eagles as his side looks to even up its ledger before matches against Richmond and Port Adelaide.

"Eventually the good footy will start coming so as long as I come with that mindset, to work hard on game day, I'll be able to get involved,” Hill said.

"I've got to block out that outside noise and listen to the people around me at the footy club, my coaches, teammates and I know they've got my back and are there to support me."