Both sides sit a game outside the top eight, making it a must-win encounter.

It was the Saints who went away from day one with pep in their step after the Bulldogs slumped to 191 after a promising start.

Dean Russ and Greg Sheehan got the Bulldogs' dig off to a flyer with a 54-run opening stand.

Sheehan was the first to fall on 13 after playing an anchor role. Russ followed for 39, but the Bulldogs were still in a handy position at 2-68.

Travis Dean got the scoreboard ticking again with a sensational 61.

Only problem was the batsmen at the other end, who couldn't hang in as the Saints ripped the Bulldogs' middle order to shreds.

Tallan Wright (25) and Shane Jones (26) were a thorn in the Saints' side and added some respectability to the total, but the last four wickets fell for the addition of just 10 runs.

Still, the Saints had the upper hand as they marched to 2-53, needing just 139 runs with eight wickets in hand.

Firsts: St Kilda 2-53 v Footscray

Edgewater (Dean 61 Russ 39 Jones 26 Wright 25).

Seconds: Footscray Edgewater 236

(Oldridge 82 Hollins 34 Herrick 28 Knight 27) v St Kilda 5-119 (Kelly 3-26).

Thirds: St Kilda 139 (Crea 3-20 Smilie 3-37 King 2-33) v Footscray Edgewater 5-35.

Fourths: Footscray Edgewater 83 v St Kilda 4-39 (Glowacki 2-15).