St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has made no secret of his plan to negate Hawthorn captain James Sicily in a must-win AFL clash.
The Saints' finals credentials are under the microscope, with four losses in their past six games leaving Lyon's side in danger of slipping out of the top eight.
Defeat to third-from-bottom Hawthorn - ahead of a tough last four home-and-away rounds - could spell disaster.
And putting the clamps on Sicily at Marvel Stadium on Sunday looms as crucial to St Kilda's chances.
The fiery defender was best afield when Hawthorn stunned the Saints in round 11, racking up 43 disposals, 22 intercept possessions and 16 marks.
Sicily received maximum votes in the AFL Coaches Association player-of-the-year award that day, and again in the Hawks' narrow defeat to Richmond last week.
Lyon could be tempted to use versatile tall Zaine Cordy on Sicily, with the one-time Western Bulldogs premiership defender back after two weeks out with concussion.
"Sicily put us to the sword last time so we're going to have to put work into him," Lyon told reporters this week.
"I think that's the simplest thing (sitting someone on him) ... we might have a little more experience if Cordy is available."
Sicily, for his part, said this week he is prepared for extra attention from St Kilda.
But the skipper added that isn't an issue as long as the Hawks are ahead on the scoreboard.
Despite 10 places separating the two sides on the ladder, Lyon cautioned Hawthorn have been capable of springing surprises this season.
The Saints coach is also wary of a young, rebuilding outfit that has nothing to lose.
"They're feeling good about themselves with not much pressure on them," Lyon said.
"They can't play finals, so they're just going for it.
"We want to embrace the expectation and not be constrained by expectation, and express ourselves like we did in the last quarter (against North Melbourne last week).
Hawthorn have named Lloyd Meek and mature-age debutant Brandon Ryan in a two-pronged ruck division, with Ned Reeves out suspended.
Hawks playmaker Karl Amon is out injured, while Lachlan Bramble and Cam Mackenzie return.
St Kilda have lost hard-running Brad Hill (bruised lung) and Dougal Howard (fractured wrist), recalling Cordy alongside Liam Stocker and Ryan Byrnes.
