Where and when: Optus Stadium. Sunday, March 22, 3.20pm AWST

Last time we met: Round 18, 2019. West Coast (91) def Melbourne 11.12 (78) at TIO Traeger Park

TV: Broadcast live on Channel 7, Fox Footy, Kayo and the official AFL app

Stat that matters: West Coast has had the wood over Melbourne in recent years, winning eight of the teams’ last 10 battles. Josh Kennedy, in particular, has been a thorn in the side of the Demons during that run. The two-time Coleman medallist has made a habit of dining out against the Dees, kicking three or more goals in six of those past 10 encounters.

Key match-up: Nic Naitanui v Max Gawn

Did you know that Naitanui and Gawn haven’t locked horns since Round 14, 2015? On that day the talismanic Eagle got the better of the towering Demon, winning 36 hitouts to Gawn’s 27 to help West Coast prevail by 54 points at TIO Traeger Park in Alice Springs. However, Gawn has come a long way in the past four seasons, collecting three all-Australian blazers and an AFLCA Champion Player of the Year title in 2018. The battle of the big men could very well decide who comes out on top this Sunday.

Eagle to watch: Luke Shuey

West Coast will be relying on its new skipper to lead the way in an unfamiliar setting on Sunday. With no fans present to urge the team on, Shuey will be largely responsible for rallying the troops and getting them up for the contest.