WEST Coast understands how it feels to be labelled "pretenders" and the Eagles won't be taking Port Adelaide lightly despite critics lining up to pot the Power, emerging midfielder Dom Sheed says.
Power coach Ken Hinkley has conceded his fifth-placed side can't argue with the "pretenders" tag after losing all five games against top-eight opposition this season.
But Sheed declared that West Coast has to be extremely wary of the high-octane Power - who are ranked second in the League for scoring (101 points per game) – coming to claim a scalp at Domain Stadium on Sunday.
"We don't read into that (pretenders tag) too much, we know how dangerous Port Adelaide can be," Sheed said.
"We're going to have to get it right, do our homework and really give it a crack."
West Coast has worn the 'flat-track bullies' label at times in recent years and was slammed earlier in the season for poor interstate performances.
However, the Eagles have turned their campaign around since the bye, winning two of their three clashes and playing a strong brand of high-pressure football.
The seventh-placed Eagles will take confidence into Sunday's clash from upsetting the Power at Adelaide Oval in round seven, despite conceding a mountain of inside 50s (68-39) and losing the clearance battle (44-35).
"Obviously winning it from the stoppages goes a long way to winning a game, so we were probably lucky to get a win last time we were there after getting smashed so heavily at stoppages," Sheed said.
Sheed, who has signed a two-year contract extension until the end of 2019, has been a key member of the Eagles' midfield turnaround after starting the season in the WAFL.
West Coast dominated the Bulldogs at clearances (45-29) on Saturday in a crucial away win, with the 22-year-old extracting the ball six times from stoppages.
"I had a bit of a slow start starting in the WAFL but I think I've lifted the contested side of my game. I needed to work on my defensive side as well," Sheed said.
"Simmo (coach Adam Simpson) has put a bit more faith in me to spend a bit more time in the guts."
Simpson is facing some selection headaches ahead of Sunday's clash, with a host of big-name players pushing to return.
Star spearhead Josh Kennedy (calf/Achilles) trained with the main group on Monday and is expected to make his comeback after four games on the sidelines.
Skipper Shannon Hurn (concussion/hamstring), sharpshooter Mark LeCras (hip), Brownlow medallist Matt Priddis (soreness), Will Schofield (hip), Jackson Nelson (hamstring) and Josh Hill (illness) are also on the verge of returning.
Ruckman Scott Lycett, who won 67 hit-outs for East Perth on Saturday, is also trying to force his way back into the line-up but Nathan Vardy's form has kept him out of the side.
"Spots are tight but it's a good problem to have," Sheed said. "The younger players are really stepping up and putting pressure on the senior blokes."
