It has been difficult to gauge the form of each side through the opening stages of the season.

While the Saints come in on the back of a tough loss and the Burras a good win, both sides have four wins and three losses to their names.

Saints coach Luke Fisher knows his side will have its work cut out for it on Saturday.

“We know that they’ll come in big and that when they play to their strengths they are a hard side to stop,” he said.

“We’ve got to match our strengths against their strengths and hope that will get the job done.”

A brand of high pressure football has shone brightly for the Saints in its wins this season. Its brigade of smaller-bodied midfielders will need to return to top form in order to get the job done.

“It will be about everyone committing to the role they have to play as to not allow the Burras to stretch us with their height,” Fisher said.

“If we let them just run the ball into their forward 50, they’ll get good delivery and kick plenty of goals.

“We’ve got to use our run but the ball is always going to spend plenty of time in the air so must be able to play high – it’s about balance.”

Minyip-Murtoa coach Damian Cameron said the match loomed as a must win for both teams given the close nature of the ladder.

He said his side’s defensive pressure was key because 

“We’ll rely on our defensive pressure and hardness at the ball to create create opportunities,” he said.

“We’ve got to be smart with our ball use against the Saints because they’ve got a backline that sets itself up in good positions.

“If we can get it to one-on-one contests we will be able to create opportunities.”

The Burras will look to clamp down on the Saints’ ability to spread from contests, which Cameron sees as important his opponents’ game plan.

“We need to be proactive by sticking close to them rather than being reactive,” he said.

“If we allow them to win the ball they are really good at using their skills as well as their foot speed.”

Sam Winfield is a chance to return to add some run for the Burras but will need to pass a fitness test before the match.

“Otherwise I think we’ll be relatively unchanged,” Cameron said.

Fisher said he did not expect there to be many changes to his side for the clash.

“It will depend on how a couple of guys come up,” he said. 

“Lachie King went down after being kneed heavily in the back last week but he should be fine.

“Kieran Priestly has come up good from a sore shoulder as well, at this stage there might be one change if any.”