The only AFL numbers that really count right now for St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt are wins and losses.

His own statistics reflect some below-par form in the past few weeks, but one of the modern game's best key forwards can cope with that so long as the Saints keep winning.

After a poor start to the season, St Kilda racked up a six-game winning streak before Friday night's 19-point loss to Collingwood.

They are sixth and on track to host an elimination final.

Riewoldt has only kicked 28.24 this season and is yet to boot more than four goals in a game.

"No doubt, I'm clearly not at my absolute best," he said on Wednesday.

"But one thing's for sure, I'm really trying and my preparation is as good as it's ever been - and the team is functioning really well.

"If the team can keep performing as they have been performing and I can keep playing my role within that, I'd much prefer that than coming out and kicking a bag and the team losing."

The encouraging factor for Riewoldt, as has been the case with his team, is that attitude is not an issue.

"I am preparing well - if it was an effort-based thing, clearly I'd fix that up," he said.

"I just have to keep playing my role in the team and those bigger days will come as I continue to prepare well and the team continues to go well."

Riewoldt had to deal with some well-documented problems off the field last summer, as well as last season's second-straight grand final loss.

In February, he spoke passionately at the St Kilda annual general meeting, saying the club would not fracture as outsiders tried to break them down.

But at times this season, Riewoldt has looked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

"Certainly, I fall in with the rest of the team in that situation - we took a while to get going at the start of the year," he said.

"It took a bit of time to find that momentum but, in the last three months, the performances that we've been able to put out on the park really suggest we've found our groove and we're playing the football that's made us a threatening team over the past few seasons."

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