Premier Cricket: St Kilda is confident its form can stack up against Carlton this weekend

While aware of the challenge at hand, St Kilda is confident it's in good enough form to knock off reigning premier Carlton this weekend. Here’s why.

Stand-in St Kilda skipper Jonathan Merlo says there’s no time like the present for his side to knock off reigning premiers Carlton.

The Saints are on a run, defeating Footscray for the second time in three matches at the weekend to keep its season alive.

After posting 6-324 – courtesy of a second successive century from Ed Newman (106no) – the Saints then rattled through the Dogs for just 206.

Victorian quick Zak Evans (5-53) had the ball talking early, sinking the Scray to 5-16.

And it’s that form with both bat and ball that Merlo says is giving his side the belief it can beat the benchmark of the competition this weekend.

“It’s going to be an extremely tough game, Carlton, as far as I am concerned have been the best side for years,” he said.

“If you look at their side, each player plays a role that is extremely valuable, there’s no one or two players, there’s 11 strong players who contribute week-in-week-out.

“We know how difficult it’s going to be to beat them on their home track but we’re a side full of confidence.

“We’re making runs and bowling sides out, so if there’s ever a time to knock them off on their home track, I think we’re in good stead.

“It’ll be our biggest test to date, we’re all looking forward to it.”

St Kilda batter Ed Newman is in exciting form. Picture: Hamish Blair

After going down to Essendon in round 14, the Saints have faced three do-or-die contests and passed with flying colours.

Although they have posted scores in excess of 300 in each of the last three outings, Merlo says it’s the power of timing as well as the understanding of when to convert.

“I don’t think it’s a magical thing that’s sort of clicked or we have done anything too different, I think it’s just in the past we haven’t really peaked at the right time,” he said.

“I think in previous years – in particular last year – we have hit our straps earlier in the year and then tapered off naturally a little bit and gone through some individual slumps.

“I think this year just about every batter in our group is hitting form and it’s timing nicely, I wouldn’t say it’s something magical, or something we’re doing differently, we’ve just got enough confidence in each other now that come finals time we can stick with it.

“It’s (converting) been an issue with the whole group at times, getting to 50 or even getting to 30 or 40 and not going on, now we have a mature group that understands that when you get your chance and you’re in, you’ve just got to go on with it.

“It’s probably something we know from a lean year at the start, you don’t get too many opportunities to go on and make big runs.

“So I think there’s this hunger with everyone now that says ‘look if we get the chance, we’re going on with it’.”

The Saints will be boosted by the return of captain Adam Crosthwaite who has served his two-match suspension.

St Kilda celebrate one of its 10 wickets on Sunday. Picture: CM THOMAS PHOTOGRAPHY

Elsewhere, Ringwood also advanced through to the preliminary final, defeating Richmond by 119 runs.

The Rams set the Tigers 8-242 and restricted the home side to 123 with Matt Fotia capturing 3-28 and Prateek Patil 3-20.

Ringwood will now meet Melbourne at the Albert Ground while St Kilda travel to Princes Park to tackle Carlton.