VENUE & TIME: Telstra Dome, 7.40pm Friday 4 April

HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 142, Western Bulldogs 68, St Kilda 71. Draws: 3

LAST TIME: Western Bulldogs 12.13 (85) drew with St Kilda 12.13 (85), Round 18, 2007 at Telstra Dome.

WALKING WOUNDED: Promising youngster Shaun Higgins is the latest Bulldog to be struck by injury. He damaged his ankle in last Saturday's rout against Melbourne and faces four to six weeks on the sidelines. He joins Nathan Eagleton (ankle), Tom Williams (thigh), Farren Ray (foot) and Andrejs Everitt (knee) on the sidelines. All five would be in the Bulldogs' best 22. The Saints will again be without Sydney recruit Sean Dempster (cartilage arthroscopy), Brendon Goddard (knee), Matt Maguire (leg) and James Gwilt (groin).

FORM: The undefeated Saints are the form team this season, posting two wins in the season proper after winning the NAB Cup. However, they have been far from convincing in the opening two rounds, defeating Sydney in what will go down as one of the most boring matches of 2008 and doing what was required to account for the battling Carlton last week. The Bulldogs mauled the hapless Melbourne last Saturday after recording a thrilling first-round victory over Adelaide.

WHO'S HOT: Now in his seventh season, Xavier Clarke is starting to deliver the goods. The 24-year-old appears to have shaken the injury curse which has plagued his career since being recruited with pick five in the 2001 AFL Draft. Clarke found plenty of space against the Blues and made them pay with 21 touches and three goals. He plays his 100th game this week. Bulldogs midfielder Daniel Cross continues to get better and better. With Scott West into the twilight of his career, more responsibility will fall on Cross to win the ball in tight spaces. He has been up to the task thus far this season and was close to best on ground against the Demons with 31 possessions and three goals. He can expect in-form Saints tagger Leigh Fisher to follow him very closely this week.

WE THINK: This game will see a contrast in style. The Saints play a dour game based on getting numbers behind the ball, while the fleet-footed Bulldogs love to run and carry the ball. Eade's side is at its best when it breaks the lines and kicks over centre half-forward, a position which is still a weakness for the Bulldogs despite the arrival of Scott Welsh from Adelaide. The Saints' game plan will be to deprive the Bulldogs runners of time and space in the midfield, forcing them wide and out of the corridor. That will give them time to push numbers back and highlight the Bulldogs' lack of a big-bodied forward who can be a long target, a get-out-of-jail option if you like. That's in contrast to the Saints, who have Nick Riewoldt, Justin Koschitzke and Fraser Gehrig stockpiled in their forward 50. In a tight contest, back the side with the better tall forwards. St Kilda by 17 points.