Ross Lyon sees Melbourne as a danger team that could easily be taking a four-game winning streak into Saturday night's crucial AFL match against St Kilda.
It's been a rough week for the Demons, with star onballer Clayton Oliver seen arguing at training with an official the day before the club revealed he could miss another month because of his hamstring injury.
Coming off narrow losses to Geelong and GWS, Melbourne dropped James Harmes, Kade Chandler and Joel Smith for the Marvel Stadium game.
The Demons have lost four of their past six, while Lyon's Saints haven't won two in a row since they opened the season with a four-game streak.
Melbourne hold fourth spot on the ladder and St Kilda are fifth, with only percentage separating them.
Lyon said Melbourne's past two losses must be put in perspective.
"We didn't go to school too much on that because it was pretty wet," he said of the Demons' loss to GWS last weekend in Alice Springs.
"Their (Giants') spirit was really good, but the cold, hard facts are that Melbourne had 76 entries (inside 50s) to GWS's 43. By any measure, with respect to GWS, Melbourne win that game of footy.
"We all probably sat and watched the Geelong-Melbourne game ... and they were right in it. It took a brutal Geelong.
"They were in that game, so I wouldn't say they're out of form."
The Saints also have had a selection shake-up, with Zac Jones and Jack Billings to play their first games this season.
Brad Hill, Josh Battle and Jack Higgins are injured, while Zaine Cordy also returns.
Melbourne lost Bayley Fritsch to foot surgery as Charlie Spargo and James Jordon were recalled.
Taj Woewodin, the son of Melbourne's 2000 Brownlow Medallist Shane, was also named by the Demons for his AFL debut.
St Kilda are renowned for their team defence - an area where Lyon says they still must improve - and this will be an acid test for Melbourne.
The Demons have not scored more than eight goals in a game for their last four matches.
"We've got our work cut out," said Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin.
They're a high pressure team, they're a great defensive team, and it's an area of our game we've got to get right.
"We've got to defend the right way ourselves and give ourselves a good opportunity to hit the scoreboard."
