West Coast Eagles star defender Brad Sheppard credits a solid training block during the Covid-19 shutdown period as a key reason behind his strong start to the 2020 season.

The 29 year old is in stellar form boasting an 89.6% kicking efficiency and almost 8 marks per game.

Sheppard told TAB Radio on Tuesday morning that he kept his focus prior to the resumption of play on the Gold Coast. 

"I am pretty happy with my form, through the covid period I trained pretty hard with Josh Kennedy so going into this first stretch of games I was confident with the work that I had done and how my output was going to be," Sheppard said.

The 184 game veteran has kept a number of dangerous forwards to limited returns in recent weeks including his job nullifying electric Brisbane Lions gun Charlie Cameron to just one goal from five touches. 

"The harder the work, the luckier you get, I think it is setting me up for a good year."

Sheppard explains the younger core of players have been critical to lifting the energy during the challenging five game series in the Queensland hub. 

"We've got a really good bunch of young kids coming through and when we needed a bit of confidence, those guys have been sensational."

Now back home in Perth, Sheppard is looking forward to getting back to Optus Stadium in front of an expected crowd of 30,000 people for the 51st RAC Derby. 

"Just to play in front of a crowd and get that atmosphere and mojo back it is going to be great."

Sheppard will be looking to follow up his brilliant performance in the most recent RAC Derby in which he collected the Glendinning/Allen medal as best afield.