Where and when: Subiaco Oval, Saturday, June 5, 5.40pm
Head to head: West Coast 21 wins, Geelong 18 wins, one draw
Last time: West Coast 11.11 (77) lost to Geelong 15.9 (99), round 11, 2009 at Subiaco Oval

MISSING IN ACTION
West Coast
Darren Glass (abdomen) - TBA
Ash Hansen (hip) - 1 week
Jordan Jones (ankle) - 6-8 weeks
Daniel Kerr (hamstring) - 7 weeks
Chris Masten (knee) - 3-4 weeks
Luke Shuey (virus) - 1-2 weeks

Geelong
Joel Corey (knee) - 2 weeks
Marcus Drum (eye) - 2 weeks
Steven Motlop (shoulder) - indefinite
Brad Ottens (foot) - 2 weeks
Max Rooke (knee) - indefinite
Matthew Scarlett (hamstring) - 2 weeks

FORM
West Coast: LWWLL
Geelong: WWWWW

SUMMARY
Recent losses to St Kilda (35 points) and then Carlton (29) have seen pressure mount at the historically impatient West Coast, with coach John Worsfold coming under particular scrutiny this week.

Unfortunate timing it is then for the Eagles, who host premiership favourite Geelong, a club with an outstanding recent record at Subiaco Oval and a now unquestioned appetite to build on its recent success.

The Cats have won five of their last six matches at WA’s home of football, including a 135-point massacre of West Coast in 2008. They have won five straight matches now by an average of 69 points and are without peer at the top of the AFL ladder.

While West Coast boasts in-form forwards Mark LeCras and Josh Kennedy, who shared nine goals between them from limited opportunities last week, the Cats are firing on every line and deserve to cross the country red-hot favourites this week.  

PLAYER TO WATCH
Injury-prone defender Sam Butler hasn’t managed to string much football together since debuting in 2004, and he missed six games this year with a facial fracture. However, in his two games back he’s proven to be one of the Eagles’ best ball-users out of defence.

James Podsiadly has booted 20 goals from four games at Skilled Stadium in his remarkable debut season, but in his three other matches he’s managed just three. The 28-year-old debuted impressively at Subiaco Oval in round three, so what can the J-Pod produce away from the Cattery this time around?  
 
QUESTION MARKS
Can someone contain Gary Ablett, to any degree? West Coast has a frightful record against the Brownlow Medallist, who has racked up 110 possessions in their last three clashes.

Can the Eagles lift their tackling pressure? They laid 68 tackles against Carlton last week - 22 fewer than their opponents, who monopolised possession.

Will Mark Thompson pack a light salad or something a little heartier? The Cats coach famously tucked into a sandwich when these sides clashed at Subiaco Oval back in 2008.

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
With mismatches inevitable most weeks, the Eagles’ young midfield has been found out this season by star opponents, who turn the game at will. Bryce Gibbs did it with 45 possessions from half-back last week, while Lenny Hayes did it a week prior. The Cats have too many star midfielders who can turn this game, and it is inevitable one of them will. 

PREDICTION
Geelong by 33 points

Chat with host Chris Pike and other fans in the AFL Match Centre on afl.com.au from 5.10pm AWST Saturday or join the conversation on Twitter: #afleaglescats

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.