Melbourne coach Neale Daniher is determined not to let sentimentality cloud his call on whether to select veteran Adem Yze for the season opener against St Kilda.

Daniher admitted he was grappling over picking Yze for Friday night's clash and extending the utility's string of successive games to 226.

Yze could this season break his former teammate Jim Stynes' league record of 244 games straight, but the 29-year-old had a mediocre pre-season and is not the automatic selection he used to be.

Although Yze would be favoured to continue his run - which dates back to 1997 - after a best-afield hit-out in the VFL in his last pre-season match, Daniher said the left-footer was no certainty.

Daniher acknowledged he had to consider the potential record attempt and the reaction of his players and Demon supporters if Yze was left out, but said form had to be the main factor.

"Blokes who have been a long servant of the club, that (record attempts) does come into your calculations, but how much?" he said.

"That's the issue. Should it be everything? People and supporters say no, it shouldn't be.

"You're balancing that up with form and that's what we'll continue to do.

"I can tell you and all our supporters and what I'll say to Adem and every player, it's about performance and how your train and your attitude.

"You take all those things into account, but at the end of the day the dominant thinking on selection is what form is this player in, can he help the team win on Friday night?"

Six months ago, Melbourne beat the Saints in an elimination final at the MCG, however the Demons are expecting a different St Kilda under new coach Ross Lyon.

Lyon wants to get the Saints playing a more efficient game with fewer disposals and strong stoppages, similar to the game he helped implement at Sydney, where he was an assistant coach under Paul Roos.

"We've got a fair idea on what St Kilda will do and all the other coaches will have a fair idea after Friday night," Daniher said.

Daniher said the Demons felt privileged to kick off the season and wanted to back that faith with a strong showing first up.

"We want to give the AFL feedback, we want to give the broadcasters feedback that putting Melbourne on Friday nights is a big game, so we've got the honour to open up," he said.

Tall defender Jared Rivers remains in doubt to play because of hamstring soreness.