ST KILDA will be aiming to build on its budding relationship with New Zealand when it holds pre-season and community camps in the country in December.
Following on from playing home Anzac Day games in Wellington in the past two years, the Saints' playing list will spend two weeks of their upcoming pre-season in New Zealand.
St Kilda players will be spread across Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch during the club's AFL Australia Post Community Camp from December 1-3.
Alan Richardson's men will then converge on Queenstown for a 10-day high performance training camp where they will hike through mountains, tackle the rapids of Arthurs Peak and use state of the art training facilities.
Taking its camps to New Zealand is in line with St Kilda's strategy to embrace the country and Saints CEO Matt Finnis said the change of training scenery was exciting for the club.
"New Zealand is a stunning country and Queenstown epitomises this," Finnis said.
"Our players are very much looking forward to what lies ahead. While the High Performance camp will be a demanding and difficult camp in many ways, the scenery is amazing and the activities planned will definitely be a step away from standard pre-season training."
St Kida will host its third-straight Anzac Day game on the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing next year.
The Saints will be looking to register their first win in the country after a 16-point loss to the Sydney Swans in 2013 and three-point defeat to the Brisbane Lions this year.
"As our two countries look ahead and unite for such an important day, we acknowledge the historical significance of the Australian and New Zealand relationship," Finnis said.
"This game gives our supporters a time to remember in a place they will never forget.
"By developing the Australian game in New Zealand, we are committed to being New Zealand's team and this has only been further proven by the decision to hold our high performance training camp at our home away from home."
