Veteran North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein hasn't gone head-to-head with St Kilda's Rowan Marshall but already likes plenty about the rookie.
The pair meet in Hobart on Sunday afternoon, as the Kangaroos chase their fifth win in six starts against the AFL battlers.
Goldstein, 31, has been in top form as his side pushes for a finals spot and broke even with Collingwood's All-Australian ruckman Brodie Grundy in the Kangaroos' impressive 44-point win last round.
His next challenge, Marshall, is one of the league's most promising talls.
Goldstein, who has been linked with a move to St Kilda as an unrestricted free agent this year, said the 23-year-old has a strong all-round game.
"You don't really get a spell from him. He's got a good leap on him and is a good mover," Goldstein said.
"As soon as the ball hits the ground, he tries to become that extra midfielder. He seems like he moves quite well.
"It's about trying to play to my strengths and I think movement around the ground is also a strength of mine."
St Kilda and North Melbourne are equal on AFL competition points (24) but their form has been poles apart.
The Saints won four of their first five games but have since gone 2-7, while the Kangaroos have earned plenty of admirers for their physical footy under caretaker coach Rhyce Shaw.
"It does seem like a switch was flicked but it's definitely something that was a few months coming," Goldstein said.
"It's been pleasing, the standard we're trying to set for ourselves. But the challenge now is to keep that standard and not let it drop.
"The best sides are able to play at that really high level for a long period of time."
St Kilda are without injury-troubled star recruit Dan Hannebery, who has been replaced by Jack Newnes.
Kangaroos midfielder Paul Ahern comes in for Kyron Hayden, who snapped his Achilles tendon on debut against the Magpies.
North Melbourne have an imposing record at Blundstone Arena but are yet to win there this season, having lost to Sydney and GWS.
