Having given Adelaide a head-start once this AFL season and failed to reel them in, St Kilda are determined not to repeat the mistake at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

The Saints have won six of their past eight games, including a spirited victory over West Coast last round, to move within one win of the top eight.

The Crows have won just once over the same period and have not saluted outside Adelaide all season, but Saints forward Ryan Gamble said there would be no underestimating them.

One of Adelaide's four wins this season came against St Kilda in round six, when the Crows kicked the first six goals.

Gamble said fast starts had been an Adelaide feature, including building a six-goal lead against Essendon last weekend, before fading to defeat.

"They are a very good starting team. They couldn't finish off the Bombers, but their first half was fantastic," Gamble said.

"It was exactly the same a while ago when they played Collingwood at Etihad.

"They had Collingwood done for the first half as well, so they're obviously a fast-starting side.

"We need to be ready from the first bounce and obviously come to the game prepared and I'm sure we'll do that."

But Gamble said the current Saints were more confident about their form than the version that lost to the Crows earlier in the year.

"Last week was a big step forward for the club," he said.

"We haven't been playing the greatest footy in the first part of the year, but the second half of the year it's all starting to come together.

"It's all starting to gel now and last week was a big confidence booster."

Gamble's own confidence is rising, as he strings together solid performances in the Saints' attack.

The 23-year-old spent his five previous seasons with Geelong, playing 24 matches, but failed to cement an AFL spot.

After playing the first three rounds with the Saints this year, he was left out of their senior side until returning for the past five games.

He is starting to feel like he belongs.

"I'm starting to obviously get more mature and my body's more at the AFL level, so it's a little bit of that," he said.

"Being a lot more mature, that helps as well. I know my way around now at a footy club, so I'm not feeling out of place at all.

"Hopefully now my football can start speaking for itself and I can try to cement my spot in the St Kilda side."

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