St Kilda coach Ross Lyon declared his team's one-point win over Sydney on Saturday night was 'worth its weight in gold' after the Saints advanced into a NAB Cup semi-final.
In what was an arm-wrestle for most of the night, unheralded David Armitage emerged as the match-winner when, having taken a superb diving mark, his point from the forward pocket with two minutes remaining broke the deadlock.
Stephen Milne booted four goals for the Saints, including three in the final term, and helped to cover for skipper Nick Riewoldt, who was held to just a goal by Heath Grundy.
The Saints will now meet the winner of Sunday's clash between North Melbourne and Fremantle.
Lyon said the Saints still had some way to go to reach their best form.
"You wouldn't want to play any other team pre-season if you wanted a contest," he said.
"They play a hard one-on-one brand and there is no time or space."
"You have to work hard for your possessions so, really, it's worth its weight in gold in regards to preparation for us."
"We took a step forward."
Lyon was full of praise for the enigmatic Milne, who has improved the defensive side of his game.
"I think Stephen, in the last few weeks, he has really played the footy we have asked him to play," Lyon said.
"He has been working hard without the ball and competing. I thought he has shown really good leadership. He has had young Rhys Stanley around him and Alistair Smith."
"I thought there has been some really good signs with Stephen."
Lyon nominated a couple of areas for improvement – at stoppages and consistency in the back half – and said ruckman Michael Gardiner was a chance to play his first match of the year next week.
The Saints were perhaps fortunate to progress after Swans ruckman Mark Seaby and forward Gary Rohan both squandered super-goal opportunities in the third term.
In such a tough tussle, those misses ultimately proved crucial.
The two teams re-unite in Round 1 of the season proper at ANZ Stadium.
"They would have held some things back, we would have held some things back, but it's going to be a different game," Lyon said.
"Key personnel will be on longer and more often in the spots they normally will be in."