STAR West Coast midfielder Andrew Gaff has set the stage for a heated pre-season Western Derby in Geraldton, declaring that the Eagles will treat the clash as a full-scale audition for round one.
Coach Adam Simpson has thrown open competition for spots following last year's disappointing finals exit, and has named his strongest available squad for Saturday's contest against Fremantle.
"We've got most of our senior guys in this week, so I'm sure it will be almost treated like a full game, like round one, because after Saturday we've really only got one more (pre-season) game," Gaff said.
The Eagles have loaded up their onball division to face a Nat Fyfe-led Dockers side, with boom recruit Sam Mitchell set to debut in blue and gold alongside returning stars Luke Shuey, Matt Priddis and Gaff.
That quartet will lead the engine room this season, but the likes of Jack Redden, Lewis Jetta, Elliot Yeo, Chris Masten, Dom Sheed, Liam Duggan and Mark Hutchings will have to prove themselves ahead of round one.
"We probably let ourselves down in the midfield last year," Gaff said.
"To have Mitch come in and with the improvement of the younger guys over Christmas and the summer time these games are like auditions for a lot of the boys."
The Eagles were overrun by the Western Bulldogs' rampant midfield brigade in last year's elimination final, and Gaff still feels the pain of that home defeat.
"It hurt after that night and then to see the Bulldogs go all the way after that because you just don't know what might have happened if you'd managed to get through that Thursday night final," he said.
"We've done a lot of work over the summer on dealing with the bigger moments and guys stepping up when the time counts against those best teams.
"I think we've proven the last couple of years that our best footy is as good, if not better, than anyone in the comp.
"We've just got to perform like we have but step up in those big moments.
"The midfield struggled at times last year, and we're not relying on Sam (Mitchell) to do anything more than he has over the years.
"But with the improvements of guys like Sheed, Yeo, Duggan, Hutchings, as well as everyone on the list we feel that our best footy can beat anyone."
The Eagles flew to Geraldton on Thursday to kick-off their Australia Post Community Camp and will hold a light training session at Wonthella Oval on Friday.
Saturday's sold-out match will test both sides with temperatures forecast to soar into the mid-30s.
"It will be good for us. It's always pretty hot in the first couple of rounds of the year even in Perth, so it's good practice," Gaff said.
"If you can get through a (close to) 40-degree day, you know you're doing pretty well."
