St Kilda and Geelong re-asserted their authority over the rest of the finals challengers in a first week of September which ultimately went as expected.

All four higher-placed teams going into the weekend's four games won but it was the Saints and Cats who silenced the doubters with the kind of courageous wins that now puts them in pole position to clash in a grand final for the first time.

For the first 13 rounds of this season it appeared the two heavyweights were certain to play off for this year's flag after both remained unbeaten (the first time ever two teams had been unbeaten so late in the season) and then produced a memorable Round 14 clash, which the Saints won by a kick.

But injury and indifferent form meant the Cats never quite looked the same team after that as they won just five of their last nine games, although they were never in danger of losing second spot.

And equally the Saints - after winning a club record first 19 games of the season - then got the staggers late in the home and away season as well when they won just one of their last three games and that was against bottom side Melbourne.

But like the Cats, they were never in danger of losing top spot and what is clear now is that both teams had little to play for late in the home and away season - hence their drop-off in form.

However when the big stakes returned on the weekend - there was the Cats and the Saints putting away highly credentialed opposition in the Western Bulldogs and Collingwood respectively in the two qualifying finals.

Neither win was emphatic - 14 points and 28 points - but it was enough to show the Cats and Saints remain a step ahead of their major challengers.

Even more importantly neither team suffered any injuries and both will benefit from the week off, particularly the Cats - who will almost certainly regain 2007 Norm Smith Medalist Steve Johnson in a fortnight's time for its preliminary final while Paul Chapman's hamstring will get a well-earned rest.

Saints coach Ross Lyon admitted his team had been inspired by the Cats' courageous win over the Dogs a day earlier when it took to the big stage against the in-form Pies on Sunday.

"Geelong had been in the same boat and they were able to flick their intensity on and