ST KILDA veteran Steven Baker proved he's still a formidable opponent with a crucial shutdown job on the dangerous Shaun Higgins during the Saints' 24-point win over the Western Bulldogs on Friday night.

Higgins, more accustomed to playing forward and through the midfield, was used as a loose man across half-back by his coach Rodney Eade, and played a vital role in keeping the Bulldogs in the match during the first half.

Higgins had amassed 23 disposals and provided the most run of any player on the ground before Baker was sent to the playmaker at the seven-minute mark of the third quarter to act as a defensive forward.

The tenacious 31-year-old was up to the task and held his younger opponent to just four possessions for the rest of the match, completely quelling Higgins' influence as the Saints kicked clear.

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said Baker's success in a role forward of centre would help him extend his 201-game career in the modern, substitute-altered game.

"I think what he needs to do, where the game's gone, you need to be able to play more than one position," Lyon said after the match.

"If you just see yourself as a small back, with three on the interchange it's too difficult.

"You need to be able to go forward and midfield.

"So that's the challenge for Steven and he delivered on that tonight."

Baker capped his excellent second half with his first goal of 2011 and just the 35th of his career, a set shot from deep in the forward pocket late in the last quarter that sealed the victory for the Saints.

There could be more time in the front half to come for the Colac hard-nut as St Kilda continues its climb back into the top eight, with Lyon stressing the importance of versatility.

"You've got to be multi-positional now, because otherwise it puts too much running pressure on the others," he said.