TOUGH West Coast defender Brad Sheppard has urged his teammates to erase a disappointing recent finals record and seize their opportunity this September.
The Eagles have underperformed badly in their past two finals.
They were thrashed by Hawthorn by 46 points in the 2015 Grand Final, and suffered a 47-point humbling from the Western Bulldogs in last year's home elimination final.
On Saturday night, they will start underdogs against Port Adelaide in a do-or-die clash at Adelaide Oval.
The winner will travel to take on a Greater Western Sydney outfit licking its wounds after a poor six-goal defeat to Adelaide on Thursday night.
Although the Eagles only scraped into eighth spot, Sheppard insisted West Coast's experienced line-up could do some damage during finals.
"We feel like the group is in a pretty good space at the moment," Sheppard told AFL.com.au.
"There's a lot of energy, and although the last two finals haven't gone our way, we felt like we've learnt a lot in those last two games.
"I'm pumped with the way the boys played in round 23, and to be able to play finals again is something you aspire to at the start of pre-season.
"You need to make the most of it while you've got it.
"We just can't wait to let everything go on Saturday night."
West Coast have named an unchanged line-up for the first time all season, and had a light training run at Adelaide Oval on Friday.
The venue holds no fears for the Eagles, who have beaten Port in all three clashes there and boast a 5-1 overall record.
But it promises to be an intimidating atmosphere, with a fired-up 50,000-strong crowd expected on Saturday night.
"You've got to embrace the crowd and the noise," Sheppard said.
"It's a great oval and venue to play at.
"We've had some success in the past, but we understand that finals football is another kettle of fish."
West Coast has to shut down Port match-winners Paddy Ryder, Charlie Dixon and Robbie Gray to break a five-game losing streak in interstate finals.
Sheppard is Gray's likely match-up after holding him goalless from just 15 touches when the Eagles sprung a 10-point upset at Adelaide Oval in round seven.
But Gray got off the leash in the final term of the rematch in round 16 at Domain Stadium, booting two clutch goals in a 32-point Port triumph.
"If I do get that challenge to match-up on him, I'll really look forward to it. We've had some good battles," Sheppard said.
"It does give you a couple of restless sleeps throughout the week, but I'm really confident with the work I've put in.
"I'm feeling in a pretty good headspace, the body is feeling good and I'm really looking forward to getting out there.
"It was my dream growing up to be able to play in these big games and I get another opportunity, so I really want to grasp it."
