St Kilda rebounded superbly from their three-game slump last week with the big win over Carlton and now they take on Fremantle in another massive clash.

Coach Brett Ratten has backed St Kilda to consign their three-week slump to history as they aim for a return to the AFL finals.

Now that he has secured a two-year contract extension, the next assignment for Ratten will be Saturday night's massive clash with Fremantle at Marvel Stadium.

The Saints are ninth, outside the top eight only on percentage, while the Dockers are two games ahead of them in fourth.

After three-straight losses, including poor performances against Essendon and Sydney, the Saints roared back to life last week with an upset win over Carlton.

Ratten is confident that his team has found its mojo again as they try to break back into the top eight.

He noted on Friday that outside those losses to Essendon and Sydney, the Saints have been consistent this season.

"We were poor and because it was only a few weeks ago, it sits at the forefront of our mind and we think about it a bit," he said.

"I would be pretty surprised if we don't get into a bit of a groove now."

Ratten added it is critical that the Saints don't deviate from how they want to play, saying it cost them dearly in their mid-season slump.

"It's more about how we play. You're going to lose some games of footy when we play that way," he said of the Carlton win.

"Our pressure was through the roof, our ball movement was up, our stoppage work was good - but sometimes you can still lose.

"It's the way you go about it."It was really the Essendon and Sydney game - Brisbane was a bit different - it wasn't how we want to play the game.

"We just have to play the way we want to play."

St Kilda have lost defender Hunter Clark and Dougal Howard to injury, but Darragh Joyce will take Howard's place.

Ratten cheekily speculated whether Dockers forward Matt Taberner will play after he had hamstring tightness last Sunday in the win over Port Adelaide.

"That's an interesting one. Does he make the trip? We're not sure," Ratten said.

"He had a hamstring on a six-day (turnaround). Will they risk him?"

More broadly, Ratten is impressed with what the Dockers are producing this season.

"Their consistency across the board - their best and worse, across the team, to a man is very good," he said.

"They don't drop off too much.

"Defensively, they have a real appetite. They make it tough for the opposition, they get back.

"Their defence is really at the top of the table and that's going to have to be something we have to penetrate."