Saints brace for Fremantle's clearance beasts

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon rates Fremantle as arguably the best midfield unit in the league, and he's urging his players to lift and match them at Marvel Stadium.

Fremantle boast the best average clearance differential in the league at plus-8.4, with St Kilda ranked fifth at plus-2.4.

The Dockers' midfield unit of Nat Fyfe, Caleb Serong, Hayden Young and Andrew Brayshaw are all clearance beasts, while ruckman Luke Jackson can also pose big problems for the opposition.

St Kilda's finals hopes already hang in the balance after slipping to 14th on the ladder with a 3-6 record on the back of last week's shock five-point loss to Hawthorn.

Fremantle (5-4) are also desperate for a win on Saturday night after suffering a 48-point defeat to Sydney last week.

Lyon is bracing his team for a big challenge.

"We're playing almost the No.1 midfield in the comp aren't we," Lyon said.

"Luke Jackson, Fyfe: dual Brownlow, Serong: All-Australian, Andy Brayshaw has been an MVP, and then Hayden Young is a pick seven that has really exploded

"Jeremy Sharp is really high on the AFL rankings.

"So we understand we've got our hands full there. That's their absolute strength - they're the No.1 clearance team in the AFL.

"It's an area we're going to have to lift in."

Lyon hinted he wouldn't be tagging Serong, who is averaging 33.3 possessions and 7.9 clearances per game.

One tactic the Saints could turn to is playing a defensive forward on Fremantle backman Jordan Clark.

Sydney employed the tactic to huge success last week, with Clark restricted to a season-low 16 disposals.

"Sometimes the first time that comes into the game - which it probably was for Clarky on the weekend - you learn a lot from that," Dockers coach Justin Longmuir said.

"Part of being a good player is you get a lot more attention."

Saturday night's match marks the second time Lyon will be coaching against Fremantle since rejoining St Kilda last year.

Lyon got the chocolates when the teams met in round one last season, with the Saints prevailing by 15 points.

"The heart rate doesn't change," Lyon said of coaching against his former side.

"Some people would say I haven't got a heart, but that's OK.

"I'm part of their history, I don't really give it much thought at all (facing them again)."

Lyon has axed Angus Hastie, Jack Hayes and Hugo Garcia for the match, while forward Tim Membrey, Liam Stocker and Seb Ross are officially listed as being managed.

St Kilda have named former Carlton midfielder Paddy Dow for his Saints debut, while Cooper Sharman, Anthony Caminiti, Zak Jones, Lance Collard and Mattaes Phillipou are the other inclusions.

Fremantle will be without ruckman Sean Darcy (calf) for the second straight week.