HAWTHORN assistant coach Luke Beveridge has forecast a much improved Hawthorn outfit to take the field against the Saints on Saturday night.

Beveridge said that the challenging opening to the season will hold the side in good stead when facing adversity later in the season.

“This week we go in knowing that there’s improvement because we fell away (last week),” Beveridge said.

“When you’re up, it’s making sure that you consolidate and don’t let the opposition back in.

“(But when) they come, make sure that the intensity and energy around the footy is there so we can finish the game off.”

Despite the disappointing loss to the Swans last week, Beveridge says the Club believes that the manner in which the Hawks were overrun, can only assist in the development and education of both the inexperienced and experienced players.

“We know that you only need to be a fraction from where you think is your best and you give a good side an opening and they’ll pounce,” Beveridge said.

“It’s a good lesson for young players, but it’s a reminder for our more experienced players as well because to a certain degree we’re all reliant on each other.

“You only need a game like that just to remind you how brutal the game can be when you’re just off the pace a little bit.

“We hope that that’s enough stimulus for the 22 who are picked this week, to really focus on playing the game right out and play for the 30 odd minutes a quarter.”

With the Saints boasting a number of superstar players, including Lenny Hayes, Brendon Goddard and Nick Dal Santo, the battle in the midfield will be an important factor in deciding the outcome of the match.

Beveridge isn’t convinced though, that tagging is the best option.

“Do you pre-occupy yourself with all their good players,” he said.

“Based on how the Saints are going, we need to be mindful of what their strengths are, so we’ll need a good balance of catering for them but also playing the way we want to play.

“We’re going to back and have faith in our 22, we trust our systems and we believe that they’ll work.”

St Kilda’s positive start to the 2012 season has not just been the importance and output of their stars, but rather in the improvement of their youngsters.

“The Saints might be surprising a few people at the moment, but I think what they’re showing is that there’s still a lot of talent there,” Beveridge said.

A lot of their young kids have stepped up and some of the changes that Scott’s (Watters) made have been a real positive for them.

Kate Salemme is a member of Hawthorn Football Club’s Digital media team reporting exclusively for hawthornfc.com.au from the Ricoh Centre.