HEAD TO HEAD:

Played: 210

Essendon: 140

St Kilda: 66

Draw: 4

PAST FIVE TIMES:

R14, 2015, St Kilda 25.11 (162) d Essendon 8.4 (52) at Etihad Stadium

R5, 2015, Essendon 11.16 (82) d St Kilda 11.14 (80) at Etihad Stadium

R5, 2014, St Kilda 11.15 (81) d Essendon 9.11 (65) at Etihad Stadium

R4, 2013, Essendon 19.14 (128) d St Kilda 13.13 (91) at Etihad Stadium

R15, 2012, St Kilda 21.7 (133) d Essendon 8.14 (62) at Etihad Stadium

LAST TIME WE MET:

Jobe Watson's 200th game turned into a nightmare for the Bombers Captain and his teammates, as St Kilda ran out 110 point victors.

Dyson Heppell, with 32 possessions and two goals, tried his best and Cale Hooker showed some promising signs in his first real taste as a permanent forward, finishing with three goals.

But the Dons were a long way off the pace.

Watson played out the game, but it was his last of the season because of a shoulder injury.

KEY PLAYERS:

Michael Hartley and Paddy Ambrose don't get too many headlines but their role on Nick Riewoldt could be crucial.  The St Kilda Captain has made his name as a forward, but he's spending more time in the midfield this season.  Hartley has taken the number one forward all season so he shapes as a likely match-up when Riewoldt is stationed in attack.  While Ambrose has the running power to go with Riewoldt when he moves into the midfield.

St Kilda may have only won two games this season, but their pace and ball movement is a threat.  They can open up opposition defences quickly so James Kelly's ability to set-up the Essendon zone will also be important.