SAINTS rookie Tom Curren is expected to be given the toughest job of his young football career – stopping Gary Ablett.

In just his fifth AFL match, Curren was positioned opposite Sydney’s Dan Hannerbery at the SCG last weekend, keeping the Swan’s premiership hero to just 16 touches for the afternoon. 

Veteran Clint Jones, the Saints main run-with specialist, tossed the idea in an interview with AFL.com.au. 

"I knew he may get the opportunity to do some of those roles and early on he was asking me for some feedback on how to go about it," Jones said.

"It's really positive to see how he's played, the last two weeks in particular.

"He looks really good and really comfortable at AFL level I think."

While Jones conceded Ablett would be the opposition’s main target, the 29-year-old midfielder said the Saints couldn’t afford to dismiss the SUNS rising young guns in Harley Bennell, Dion Prestia and Jaeger O’Meara. 

"There's so much to gain out of playing on someone like Gary," Jones said.  

"He'll definitely take you to the footy, and with his bodywork and running power, he's the total package as a player.

"The last couple of times we've played the Gold Coast I've actually had (Harley) Bennell, who's been in really good form the last couple of weeks."