Leppitsch reported to the board during the week as part of an end-of-season review with the coach’s future unclear.

A three-time premiership winner with the Lions as a player, Leppitsch has been unable to recapture such success as a coach delivering the club just three wins this season.

The Lions would be staring down the barrel of a wooden if not for the depleted Essendon who have fielded a weakened side in 2016 due to their well-publicised supplements debacle.

Leppitsch said he was well aware this weekend could be his last with a clipboard in the top flight.

"It could be, everyone knows that, but I'm not thinking about it like that, that's for sure," Leppitsch said.

"For me it's out there to go and beat the Saints.

"We've had a couple of good weeks, continue on that path."

Leppitsch said an off-season recruitment drive was crucial, but adding quality players to their list was not a simple undertaking.  

"There's only one Paddy Dangerfield a year that comes out," he said.

"I know there's a couple down the road that are leaving in (Dion) Prestia and (Jaeger) O'Meara, but they're probably the two big ones this year.

"There's no key defenders. The easy thing to say is go and get one, but it doesn't happen that easy.

"I'll stop working the moment I get told to stop working. Other than that I'm full steam ahead."