ST KILDA has become used to carrying the burden of big pre-season expectations these past few years, and the sense of deja vu at the moment is particularly striking.

The reasons for that buzz are several: a strong finish to 2007 that yielded seven wins, a draw and three narrow losses from the last 11 games; the recruitment of four established senior players, three of them with premiership medallions; and now, two good wins and a spot in tonight's NAB Cup semi-final against Essendon.

The first win came with a depleted team against a virtual full-strength Richmond line-up. Last week, still missing several senior hands, the Saints knocked over Geelong.

With pundits currently compiling their 2008 ladders, more than a handful have St Kilda pencilled in as the Cats' most serious challenger. And with stars such as Nick Riewoldt, Lenny Hayes, Luke Ball and Robert Harvey returning for tonight's clash, you can expect the bandwagon to load up in the event of another win.

Which is all par for the course and vaguely amusing to a club that is aware of the hype, but remains focused on getting appropriate game time into its guns and blooding some up-and-comers.

"There's not much to say at the moment, because it's only the NAB Cup," said football manager Matthew Drain yesterday. "In 10 weeks' time, it might look a bit different."

What tonight might underline is not only the depth of talent, but the versatility at coach Ross Lyon's disposal.

One of those premiership recruits, Adam Schneider, will be unveiled as a midfielder capable of alternating with Stephen Milne as a goalkicking forward.

With Michael Gardiner returning to share ruck duties with Steven King, Michael Rix might occupy a key defence post, though Gardiner could well be used also as a key forward, especially as Fraser Gehrig and last week's five-goal spearhead Justin Koschitzke will be absent this evening.

Then there's the youngsters to get excited about: a potential new star in Sam Gilbert; Jarryn Geary, super-impressive in St Kilda's two NAB Cup wins thus far; the pacy and prolific ball-winner Clint Jones, who looks to have improved further; midfielder David Armitage, and last week's winning goalkicker, Jack Steven, still just 17.

St Kilda won't be fazed should it lose this evening, nor will it be doing cartwheels should it win. It's actually had practice at downplaying pre-season success.

Last time the Saints won the pre-season competition, in 2004, then coach Grant Thomas and skipper Hayes were photographed holding the trophy with expressions that made them look as if they'd just suffered a death in the family.

But St Kilda will also remember that 2004 win as a springboard to a flying start to the season proper, which yielded 10 straight victories and, for a time, red-hot flag favouritism.

Favouritism won't be a problem this year given the popular love affair with the all-conquering Geelong. But a victory over the Bombers this evening, another next Saturday night, and the Saints will surely be dealing with predictions of impending greatness.