ST KILDA coach Ross Lyon has been around too long to fall for the Geelong walking wounded talk.
The Saints travel to Geelong for a Thursday night clash that will shape the season of both clubs.
The ninth-placed Cats (9-8) are on a three-game losing skid and without injured star Jeremy Cameron.
But Lyon said his 10th placed Saints (8-9) were under no illusions about the task's magnitude at a venue where they haven't won since 1999.
"They're very established, mature, talented ... walking wounded is not a term of choice for me with them," Lyon said of Chris Scott's Cats.
"We head down the road, which is a formidable challenge, but one we've got to lean into and attack.
"Stress under load equals growth, right? So it's an opportunity for us to grow if we attack the game with the right mentality, which I think we'll do."
Lyon noted the skinny dimensions of Geelong's home ground and forecast cold conditions could make for a slippery affair.
"They play that ground really well ... 11 metres between each arc, which is quite significant, and it's the skinniest ground in Australia," he said.
"It's almost just a corridor ground so it presents a little bit of unique challenge.
"And we play on Marvel (Stadium), that is indoors, roof. It (Geelong) is going to be greasy."
That prediction led to another from Lyon: the contest would be king in deciding the result.
"The price for every game starts in the contest and pressure stage," he said.
"The contest and pressure - applying and handling it.
"And then working it from the contest to the outside, and challenging the opposition with your ball movements is really important."
The Cats will debut Jay Polkinghorne, a 20-year-old forward, in the absence of Cameron while Lyon said his spearhead Max King should return to action next weekend.
King, on the comeback after multiple injuries, hasn't played an AFL game since June 2024.
"We're hoping, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it," Lyon said.
"He's hitting his milestones ... so we've never been more optimistic."