Where and when: Optus Stadium, Sunday, June 13, 5.20pm

TV: Live on 7, Fox Footy and Kayo

Last time we met: Richmond 14.4 (88) def. West Coast 9.7 (61), round 14, 2020 at Metricon Stadium

The showdown between West Coast in fourth spot on the ladder and Richmond in fifth was a closer tussle than the final score suggests, but the Tigers’ accuracy and periods of control were telling in a hard-fought battle at Metricon Stadium. West Coast was coming off a four-day break and travel, and then lost spearhead Josh Kennedy to concussion after he copped Noah Balta’s knee to his head during the first quarter. Andrew Gaff was prolific as usual with 32 disposals, while Liam Ryan and Jack Darling chipped in with three majors apiece, but the Eagles fell short in a defeat that cost them a spot in the top four, which was never regained on the run home.

Form: (most recent first)

West Coast WLLWW

Richmond WWLWL

What it means for the Eagles: Plenty. West Coast and Richmond are equal on seven wins and occupy seventh and eighth positions on the ladder respectively. Sunday’s victor will be firmly entrenched inside the top eight, while the loser will be vulnerable to teams such as the Giants and Bombers leapfrogging them for a finals berth. Coming off a rousing triumph with an undermanned outfit at the SCG against Carlton, the Eagles have regained some key players in Josh Kennedy, Oscar Allen and Liam Duggan, and another victory before more cavalry arrives post the round 14 bye would set the side up for a big run home.

The stat: Jack Darling exploded the only time the teams have met at Optus in round nine, 2018 with an equal career-best six goals, eight marks inside 50 and six contested marks.

The match-up: Elliot Yeo v Dustin Martin

If you were designing a player to stop ‘Dusty’ then you could do a lot worse than moulding a defensively-minded, tackling machine like Yeo. The two-time John Worsfold medallist has gone to the Tigers superstar before and has the power, flexibility to run through the midfield or defend on the last line to match Martin. Whether they go head-to-head for long periods, given West Coast values Yeo so highly in the middle and ‘Dusty’ spends plenty of time forward, remains to be seen but it is a mouthwatering subplot to an intriguing game.

It’s a big week for: Liam Duggan

Back into the side after a five-game absence after knee surgery, the versatile Eagle could be called on to return to the backline in Brad Sheppard’s enforced absence due to concussion to help combat Richmond’s fleet of swift small forwards, led by emerging WA star Shai Bolton.

Big call: Jamie Cripps to slip under the radar and kick three majors to swing the game after half-time.