Interim North Melbourne Brett Ratten has put the heat on St Kilda ahead of his eagerly-anticipated clash with the club that sacked him nine months ago.
After missing finals for the second season in a row, the Saints brutally axed Ratten last October, less than 100 days after he signed a two-year contract to remain as St Kilda coach.
They were flying at 8-3 last year under Ratten before fading out to finish 10th with a 11-11 record.
The Saints started this season in flying fashion under prodigal son Ross Lyon, but enter Sunday's match against the lowly Kangaroos at Marvel Stadium clinging to their position inside the top eight.
"They (St Kilda) have added to their list with (Mattaes) Phillipou through the draft, so they have got even stronger (this year)," Ratten said.
"We have got our work cut out. They are finals bound.
"Their expectation has always been to play finals and they should with that list."
Ratten pushed back on suggestions North's players could be inspired to break their 15-game losing streak for him.
It will be Ratten's second last game in charge of the Kangaroos, with Alastair Clarkson to take the reins back ahead of the round-21 match against Melbourne.
Ratten stepped in to lead North when Clarkson took leave to look after his mental health in May amid the height of the Hawthorn racism saga.
"I think they (the players) need to do it for themselves, not do it for me," Ratten said.
"Let’s not do it for me, let’s do it for themselves and really let’s do it for our supporters and that’s really the way we finish this season."
Veteran ruck Todd Goldstein and former No.3 draft pick Will Phillips have been recalled from the VFL, but North have lost young gun George Wardlaw and explosive forward Cam Zurhaar to injuries.
