Sunday’s Carlton-St Kilda contest at Etihad Stadium, at the more conventional starting time of 1.10pm, pits 14^th versus 18^th. To say that both teams are desperate for a win is perhaps the understatement of the season.

The harsh reality is that the Blues have not taken the four points since the Adelaide game in Round 10, while the Saints haven’t greeted the judge since the fifth round match against Essendon.

So how do the good guys get over the line? Perhaps Michael Jamison offered a hint after last Sunday night’s match against Collingwood when he named Travis Cloke at No.3 behind “Buddy” Franklin at two and Nick Riewoldt “numero uno” for best opposition forward in his time in the game.

Riewoldt, who opened up in blistering form this season, has plateaued somewhat in recent weeks, but remains an ever-present threat. In the previous encounter in Round 8 he hit the scoreboard with four goals straight, although Carlton took out that match with relative comfort.

At 31 years of age, Riewoldt sits second overall for marks in the comp and fifth for marks inside 50 – so ‘Jamo’ will need to be on his game.

Up the ground, Jack Steven looms as a player to watch. Though St Kilda’s ball magnet was relatively quiet last time around in accumulating 15 disposals, his season average is 24 and he ranks third in average disposals per game to Lenny Hayes and Leigh Montagna.

Put simply, Steven is the Saints’ chief centre clearance operator and is also 10^th in averages in the comp – and he’s coming off a 23-disposal game against the Tigers, where he amassed a personal equal season-high eight tackles (he also laid eight in the Round 8 Carlton game), in what was a solid performance for his team.

Carlton’s fortunes against St Kilda hinge on so many variables, not the least of which revolve around Riewoldt, Steven and their influences.