WITH Melbourne's finals credentials under intense scrutiny, star West Coast midfielder Luke Shuey is bracing for a ferocious response from the Demons in Sunday's finals-shaping clash at Optus Stadium.
After an extensive fallout following the Western Derby, the Eagles bounced back with a stirring victory on the road against Port Adelaide to sit in prime position to claim a priceless top-two spot.
But now the Demons are enduring a hellish week after going down to Sydney, amid questions about their mental fragility in big games and 0-7 record against the top-nine teams in the competition.
"I think they've tended to respond pretty well to criticism throughout the season," Shuey said.
"That's credit to them, credit to their coach. They've got some A-grade talent throughout their side.
"It's never a walk in the park against them, especially this week, there's plenty on the line and I expect them to rock up at their best.
"It's going to be a cracking game I would have thought.
"We haven't had a great track record against Melbourne over here recently. We lost to them last year and only beat them by a goal the year before.
"When they turn up to play they're as good as anyone in the competition. It will be a big test for us."
The Eagles can lock away two home finals with one more victory and are determined not to leave it until the last day of the season in Brisbane.
For Melbourne to be certain of taking part in September for the first time since 2006 the Demons will have to beat West Coast or the top-four contending Giants.
Simon Goodwin's side has a 0-7 record against teams in the top half of the ladder.
The Demons are the highest-scoring team in the League (104 points per game) and have the firepower to worry West Coast, although they will be without gun forward Jesse Hogan (foot).
"They've scored pretty powerfully over the year and we'll need to work well as a team to defend them. We can't rely on our back six, or just 'Gov' (Jeremy McGovern)," Shuey said.
Despite plenty of headline-grabbing issues since the bye, the Eagles have kept their season on track and Shuey was confident ongoing speculation about Scott Lycett and Andrew Gaff's futures wouldn't distract the side.
He also brushed off a report that veteran Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands had been spoken about as a possible West Coast target with Lycett still unsigned and Nic Naitanui set to miss most, if not all, of next season.
"You have to look at the Fremantle midfield and how much damage they can do with big 'Sandi' and you get your answer (to what it would be like playing with him), but I think we've got other things to worry about at the moment," Shuey said.
Gaff remains in Melbourne after copping his season-ending suspension and while Shuey hopes his fellow Victorian re-signs, he didn't know which way the restricted free agent was leaning.
"I know he loves the club, he loves the people involved and the West Coast footy club has been such a big part of his life for the last eight years," Shuey said.
"It's a massive decision. I don't want to comment on it, it's his decision, and it's great now he's got time to think about it.
"We certainly look forward to having him back around the traps over the next few days, or week or so, and he can help us have a crack at finals."
