THERE are few tougher tasks in football than facing an angry Hawthorn after a loss, according to West Coast defender Will Schofield.
The Hawks are smarting after losing to Richmond on Friday night, while the Eagles are no less frustrated following their draw with Gold Coast the following evening.
The two sides meet in a blockbuster at Domain Stadium on Saturday night that will have a significant bearing on which team finishes in the top two.
Schofield said facing the unsociable Hawks is tough at the best of times, let alone after a loss.
"It's intimidating," Schofield said.
"But on the other hand, we're really excited about coming up against them and we're looking forward to it.
"It will be just a great opportunity to take on the best in the comp on our home deck and see how we go."
There is a lot of excitement about what West Coast could achieve this season, but the Eagles still view themselves as a team that is short of the elite sides in the competition.
"We're still a young, inexperienced team that is building," Schofield said.
"We've obviously put ourselves in a good position and not left it up to fate. We've got (finals) in our own hands - that's where we want to be.
"But we're still a young, inexperienced team, one of the youngest in the comp."
The average age of the Eagles' side last week was two years younger than Hawthorn, and the Hawks had 1119 more games experience across their 22.
But Richmond was similarly inexperienced by comparison to Hawthorn last Friday night.
Schofield said the Eagles had taken note of the way the Tigers beat the Hawks.
"It was good to see how they matched up against each other, how they set up," Schofield said.
"I think Richmond did it well. They possessed the footy and every team in the comp tries to do that.
"But you really need to look after the footy against the Hawks.
"They're going to smash you going the other way because they've got great, skilful midfielders and a really high-scoring forward line, so you've got to be careful with the footy.
"But in the same sense you can't be too defensive. You've got to attack them."
Schofield said the Eagles learned an important lesson from the draw with the Suns.
"You've got to rock up to play every week," Schofield said.
"Gold Coast and ourselves are on different spots on the ladder, but it just shows they came to play."
The Eagles are hopeful that key defender Jeremy McGovern will be available to return this week after missing the last two matches with a hamstring problem.
He was running well late last week and needs to get through a full training week to be selected.
Schofield said the Eagles' defence had played well without McGovern, but he admitted he would be a vital inclusion.
"Jezza is really important," Schofield said.
"What he does with the footy as well, he is able to read and take intercept marks. He was leading the comp I think before he missed.
"I saw him doing some good runs before we left for Gold Coast last week.
"Generally with a hammy if you're running the week before, you should be right.
"Hopefully he gets through training."
Later on Monday, Eagles coach Adam Simpson told 3AW he was confident McGovern would get up.
"We're pretty sure he'll play," Simpson said.
"He ticked off all the tests on Friday and he'll train with us all week. I have got his magnet on the board already.
"So hopefully we get him through the week and he plays. He's an important part of our backline. With a couple of numbers down he's been a real important part of how we move the ball as well."
