Rats were in a close tussle against their rivals Stawell Warriors in round 11 but were knocked over by the traveling team. 

Rats coach David Hosking said that he thinks Saints are a top side. 

“I think this game the Saints will not be as inaccurate as they have previously in the season,” he said. 

“In retrospect their record is better than ours and we are coming into this contest as the underdogs.

“We were upset to be dealt a loss last week but I think we have been playing some very good football, hopefully we can give them something to think about,” 

Hosking said that the recent inclusions for the side have been great. 

Stephen Phillips and James Laidlaw are out this weekend but the side gain Alan Batchelor and Alan Haslett. 

“We have been looking at key match ups but we respect the whole team and think every opposition player has their better attributes,” Hosking said. 

“I can see continuity in the squad and the guys are started to play a good rhythm of football.

“Hopefully our current momentum can push us over the line,” 

Hosking said he is wary of paying to much attention to certain players. 

“Sure, they have great, consistent players like Sam Jasper and Jacob Cooke-Harrison but if we focus on them other players could come out and perform in their place,” he said. 

Jack Ganley will be one to look out for scoring great amounts of majors for the side and Gordon Laurie is playing well.

Saints have been in fine form coming into this contest defeating cross town rivals Horsham Demons with devastating style in round 11.

Saints coach Shayne Breuer said that he is happy with how his young side has been improving. 

“We are in good form but Ararat have been showing great improvement since our round 5 clash,” he said. 

The last time these two sides met Saints triumphed winning by 46 points at Alexandra Oval. 

Breuer said the Rats side has been injected with more players since their last meeting. 

“They had a great game against Stawell with this being an important game for both clubs,” he said. 

“Our conversion has been shocking and seems to be on-going.”

The Saints team has several players away with personal commitments which has forced Breuer to make four changes to the side that defeated the Demons. 

“This gives younger or reserve guys the opportunity to prove themselves but I would like to be getting some sort of consistency at this point in the season,” Breuer said. 

“This will be a tough game, the way the top five is shaping up we need to come away with a win.”