St Kilda star Brendon Goddard says the demotion of highly respected teammates Luke Ball and Max Hudghton has reinforced the message that no player at the AFL club can afford to feel comfortable.

It is a message that had already been highlighted by the club's two most recent performances - a gutsy win over Hawthorn by a team missing eight stars, then last round's shock loss to Essendon once they returned.

"We've installed that all year that guys can't get comfortable with their position in the team no matter who you are," Goddard said.

"I guess (those results) just really show that personnel means nothing in today's footy.

"If you've got 22 guys out there that are willing to put their body on the line and give 100 per cent effort they can get you a result in the end."

Veteran backman Hudghton has faced a tough year, only working his way into the side in round 11, after overcoming a calf injury, then missing another three games with an ankle injury, before playing the last four.

Midfielder Ball was dropped for the first time in his career after round 15, then after returning for two games, has again been axed for Sunday's Etihad Stadium clash with North Melbourne.

But Goddard said both should still command a spot for the finals if they regain their best form.

"Those two guys are very respected players and both in the leadership group for good reason," he said.

"Luke's got some areas to work on and he'll go back to (Sandringham) and he's a very determined player and I'm sure he'll be back in our team very soon."

"They've got some things to work on now, but you would think in their best form they're in our best 22.

"They've contributed for a long time and there's no reason they can't play a role come September."

The Saints as a whole are also looking to regain form, after what Goddard labelled "clearly our worst performance of the year" against the Bombers.

"The contested footy has been well documented and that's an area that we pride ourselves on and we've lost in the last couple of weeks, or over three weeks," he said.

"We managed to get up against Hawthorn but that's an area we'll try to fix this week."

While few would give the 13th-placed Kangaroos much chance of making it two losses for the Saints, Goddard said the `Roos' strength in contested situations would force his side to work in that area.

With Brady Rawlings playing his 200th game and Shannon Watt his last, North will have some incentive.

"They're not going to hold back... and they've got a new coach coming on board so the guys are going to be fighting for their lives so it's going to be a tough game," Goddard said.

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