DESPITE copping successive 46-point MCG hammerings from Hawthorn, West Coast heads into Friday night's Domain Stadium blockbuster with confidence, ruckman Nic Naitanui says.
The Eagles host the Hawks in a critical clash that will have significant ramifications for the final eight.
A win will keep West Coast in the hunt for a top-four berth, while the Hawks can book the double chance if they take the points at Domain Stadium.
The Eagles kept their double-chance hopes alive with a last-gasp win against Greater Western Sydney on Saturday, courtesy of Naitanui's brilliant goal from a stoppage with just seconds remaining in the last quarter.
WATCH: Nic Nat's match-winning knack
The Hawks accounted comfortably for the Eagles in last year's Grand Final and again in round three, both times at the MCG.
But Naitanui said the Eagles were confident playing Hawthorn at home after beating them convincingly at Domain Stadium in last year's qualifying final.
"We have struggled, I guess, at the 'G but playing them at home, we feel pretty comfortable," Naitanui said.
"But Hawthorn (is) a great team. We just need to play like we did on the weekend, in that last quarter, win the contested footy, win the 50-50s and beat them at some of their own game."
Naitanui revealed on Monday that he nearly didn't get back onto the ground to kick the match-winner against the Giants after breaking his nose.
"The big Mummy (Shane Mumford) broke my nose again," Naitanui said.
"I've broken my nose twice this year.
"So I had to come off and get that cleaned up, and make sure I didn't drip at the end.
"I came off and was fortunate enough to come back on."
Naitanui said he had recovered more slowly than usual after his first two games following six weeks out due to surgery on his plantaris tendons. But he said he was slowly building up his match fitness and would be better for the run.
"First game I was pretty sore," Naitanui said.
"Second game I probably was a little bit worse but I think that match fitness is only a good thing I guess.
"That last quarter, I was going to be managed but then it was so close I was able to do a few more contests. So I feel better for it."
Naitanui has hardly been eased back into it after surgery, facing monster opponents Aaron Sandilands and Mumford in consecutive weeks.
He said Hawthorn's ruck duo of Jonathon Ceglar and Ben McEvoy would pose a different threat this week.
"They've got guys that can go forward and kick goals," Naitanui said.
"They're good running ruckmen. They compete pretty well as well. We'll do a fair bit of study on the guys in the next couple of days.
"They won't be as big as a Mumford or a Sandilands. But they're just as agile as some of the smaller guys in the competition."
