Senior coach Adam Simpson can feel the belief growing at West Coast but says facing fierce rival Collingwood will show exactly where the Eagles stand in an intriguing 2020 season.  

The Magpies have defied the absence of some key players – including Steele Sidebottom (suspension) and Jeremy Howe (ankle) – and secured back-to-back wins over Geelong and Hawthorn to climb to third on the ladder.

Meanwhile, West Coast has moved back into the top eight after three-straight victories, building form and confidence against sides currently sitting outside the finals spots.

While the Eagles are showing signs of their best, with the midfield brigade stepping up a gear recently and feeding a hungry forward line, Simpson still believes his side must go to another level to challenge the AFL’s elite teams.

“I think we’re building. I think the system we play, the trust we have in each other and the spirit with which we’re playing has got better each week,” Simpson told Channel Seven.

“Probably the biggest test we’ll have for the year is this weekend against Collingwood, who are probably the in-form side of the competition and have given us troubles before.

“Anticipating a big game this week. I think we’ll have to step up another notch to try and roll the Pies, but we can’t wait.”

The Pies won a one-point thriller last time the teams met at Optus Stadium in round 17 last year, helping derail the Eagles’ top-four bid, and Nathan Buckley’s men remain a heavyweight contender.

Simpson was relishing the thought of a half-full Optus Stadium and the support of a raucous Eagles crowd for the first time in 2020, after getting the job done in front of mostly Fremantle fans in last Sunday’s RAC Derby.

“To be honest, we were just rapt to play in front of a crowd on the weekend, albeit there was 100 West Coast supporters,” Simpson said.

“It was good to hear some boos and I think all the players appreciated it, it felt like it was a bit of a privilege to play in front of a crowd this week.

“Bring on the crowds.”