Saints, Pies set to rumble

It's judgement time for St Kilda and Collingwood on Friday night.

The Magpies, preliminary finalists last season, and St Kilda - this year's NAB Cup winners and finalists from 2004-06 - were considered certainties to be part of the September action at the start of the 2008 season.

But after seven rounds things are looking shaky for both clubs.

The Saints might be sitting fifth with four wins from seven games but they are just a game clear of 11th-placed Carlton, which has virtually an identical percentage.

And while the Saints beat Richmond in their last outing, prior to that somewhat-fortunate victory they had lost three of their previous four matches.

Collingwood, meanwhile, is precariously placed in eighth spot with three losses in four games and is coming off a 65-point hiding from unbeaten Hawthorn.

And both sides have their injury problems, particularly St Kilda.

While the Magpies are sweating on the fitness of key players Anthony Rocca, a late withdrawal from the past two matches with an ankle injury, and Josh Fraser - who injured his knee while playing for Victoria - both are a chance to play on Friday night.

However, the Saints have been decimated by injury with skipper Nick Riewoldt (knee) heading a list of absentees that also includes key defenders Max Hudghton (hamstring) and Matt Maguire (foot) as well as Xavier Clarke (hamstring) and Sam Gilbert (shoulder) while Steven Baker (knee) is also in doubt.

But the Saints are ready to pair Steven King and Michael Gardiner in the ruck for the first time this season, which will allow Justin Koschitzke to play in attack in the absence of Riewoldt.

Both clubs are in no doubt as to the importance of the game, particularly given the Magpies will go above the Saints on the ladder should they win.

"It's an opportunity if we win to put a distance between us and Collingwood," St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said.

The Magpies are equally aware of the importance of the game.

"Where we are sitting at the moment we would like to be a bit higher up the ladder and being as even as it is you need to keep winning so you don't lose touch with the top four," Collingwood midfielder Shane O'Bree said.

"So this week will be a good indicator for us but we match-up pretty well against St Kilda and hopefully we can have a win and get some confidence up."

The Pies-Saints clash is the stand-out game of Round 8 which also sees intriguing matches on Saturday between Hawthorn and Port Adelaide in Tasmania while two teams just outside the top eight in Carlton and Brisbane meet at Telstra Dome and Richmond hosts Geelong at the MCG.

On Sunday there are three games all being played outside Victoria with Adelaide hosting Melbourne, Sydney at home to Essendon and the unbeaten Bulldogs travelling to Fremantle.

That leaves just one match - between the Kangaroos and West Coast at Carrara on Saturday night - a game that is set to draw an embarrassingly low crowd given the backlash expected from local fans following the Roos' refusal to relocate north and the Eagles' lack of support on the Gold Coast.