PORT Adelaide has studied West Coast's playbook inside and out as it aims for redemption for last year's epic elimination final defeat.
It's not just the two-point loss in extra-time, capped by Luke Shuey's controversial goal after the siren, that burns deep for the Power.
This is an intense rivalry forged through painful close losses, with the Eagles winning four of their last five meetings by less than 10 points.
"We couldn't research a team any more than we have West Coast," Power senior assistant coach Matthew Nicks told reporters on Monday.
"When you lose games like we have to them by small margins in the past couple years, where you dominate a lot of the statistics, you find yourself really getting deep into how are going to knock this side off.
"We feel we know them really well, we just have to perform on the game day.
"I hope our guys are hungry because they finished our season last year.
"A lot of talk has been about us not being able to knock off top-eight sides, so we want to do another one this week."
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The Eagles have been the surprise packets of the competition, winning five of their first six games to sit second on the ladder, behind reigning premiers Richmond on percentage.
Nicks said the key to the Eagles' success was the way they defended behind the ball.
"Teams have tried to pick it apart – the Eagles' web and (Jeremy) McGovern sitting behind the ball," Nicks said.
"That's not coincidence, it's not one guy doing that.
"It's a team defence that they have and it's hard to break through."
The Power look set to welcome back All Australian ruckman Paddy Ryder, who has missed the past five games with Achilles soreness.
However, concerns about the hard playing surface at Optus Stadium will factor into the decision on whether Ryder makes the trip to Perth.
Sydney superstar Lance Franklin first injured his foot in the round one win over the Eagles.
"After round one, talking to some of the Sydney guys, they were very much saying it's the hardest ground they've ever played on," Nicks said.
"I think they're doing some work on softening it up and we have heard reports it's a little bit better now.
"Paddy's probably the one that you talk about and say, are you going to bring back your ruckman?
"I don't think it will come down to the ground, it will be more about Paddy being right."
The surface could also impact whether the Power recall experienced midfielder Tom Rockliff.
The 28-year-old hurt his calf in the Power's round four loss to Essendon at Etihad Stadium, but returned in the SANFL on Anzac Day.
"As far as selection goes, we'll talk about where are we going, we're travelling, it's the longest travel we have other than China for the year, so we'll talk through those," Nicks said.
"That doesn't necessarily mean we won't go with Rock, but it's something we have to look at."
