Where and when: The Gabba. Tuesday, September 1 (6.10pm AWST)

TV: Live on 7mate, Fox Footy, Kayo and the official AFL app

What it means for the Eagles: The race for a top four spot is officially on and West Coast will be desperate to register their 10^th win of the season with several clubs right on their hammer. A victory over the Bombers would put the fifth-placed Eagles right in the double chance mix and hold Collingwood (sixth) and St Kilda (seventh) at bay for another week.

The stat: Keep an eye on the skies tonight. West Coast is currently ranked equal first in the AFL for contested grabs (10.2 per game), whereas Essendon are 18^th in the standings (7.7).

The matchup: Jeremy McGovern v Joe Daniher

Two of the AFL’s most entertaining big men are set to collide when McGovern and Daniher go at it tonight. West Coast’s premier defender will be looking to bounce back following a quiet outing against Richmond, while Daniher will be brimming with confidence following a three-goal haul against the Hawks. If McGovern can rule the air and limit Daniher’s impact on the game it will go a long way to helping West Coast edge Essendon.

It’s a big week for: Lewis Jetta

The man with the deadliest boot in the AFL returns to our starting 22 for the first time since round four. West Coast fans have become accustomed to seeing Jetta launch lasers out of the defensive 50 for the past two years, but they’ll be hoping he can relive his 2012 glory days (Jetta led Sydney’s goal-kicking tally with 45 majors that year) and fire a few bullets through the big sticks against the Bombers.

Big call: Oscar Allen shines up forward and slots three goals at the Gabba.