Emerging St Kilda key forward Paddy McCartin will return this weekend against Sydney at Etihad Stadium after being named for his first senior game since Round 15 on Thursday night.

The 2014 No. 1 pick beat down the selection door following a dominant display for Sandringham last Saturday. He booted five goals against North Ballarat, helping lead the Zebras to a 53-point win.

Tough inside midfielder Luke Dunstan is the only out after he dislocated his left shoulder in St Kilda’s win over Carlton last weekend. The South Australian will miss the remainder of the season, while defensive forward Nathan Wright has been cleared to play after proving his fitness at Thursday’s main training session.

McCartin, 20, missed three weeks after suffering his third concussion of the year against Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium at the start of July. He has since played two games in the VFL and returns to bolster a dangerous forward line comprising young, in-form talls Tim Membrey and Josh Bruce.

The pair feasted on a dominant day at the MCG last Sunday, enjoying some silver service that saw a season-high 27 marks taken inside 50 against the Blues. Bruce hauled in seven marks inside the arc and kicked four goals, while Membrey took six marks inside 50 and finished with five majors.

With Sydney averaging the least points against of any team in the AFL (66.6-points), the Saints will need to make the most of their opportunities this weekend.

St Kilda has lost seven of their last eight encounters with the Sydney Swans, and despite winning eight of their previous ten games at Etihad Stadium, the venue holds no fear for John Longmire’s side given they are on a nine game winning streak at Docklands.

For the Saints, Saturday night is a mini-final, especially if North Melbourne loses to Hawthorn earlier in the day. Alan Richardson’s men can keep their slim finals chances alive if they end their losing run against the Swans.

If the Kangaroos lose, St Kilda has the opportunity to move within four points of the top-eight by 10:30pm on Saturday night. Safe to say there will be a lot at stake inside Etihad Stadium.

Sydney has won four of their last five games, only falling to reigning premiers Hawthorn in the dying seconds of Round17. The Swans sit a game off the top placed Hawks in second position, although they do have a superior percentage.

Brownlow medal fancies Luke Parker (39 possessions and 11 clearances) and Dan Hannebery (36 possessions and eight inside 50s) were dominant against Port Adelaide last weekend, and they were well supported by Josh Kennedy (30 possessions and 11 clearances) and Tom Mitchell (32 possessions and seven tackles). The Swans bat extremely deep in the midfield, perhaps the deepest in the game.

St Kilda will require another even spread of contribution this weekend, particularly in the midfield. Jade Gresham and Jack Newnes both amassed big numbers against the Blues, producing arguably their finest performances at AFL level.

Rebounding defender Dylan Roberton was another who produced a standout effort at the MCG last Sunday. This weekend, the former Docker reaches the 100-game milestone after playing 62 games in red, white and black since crossing to the Saints at the end of 2012.

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