THERE’S a lot Kangaroos ruckman Hamish McIntosh and his footy club have in common.

Both are bouncing back from several frustrating years.

Both have shown this season they could be the real deal.

And both face tests this weekend which will tell them a lot about where they stand - the Kangaroos as an AFL contender and McIntosh as the league's emerging young ruckman.

Competition premiers West Coast and the competition's premier big man Dean Cox are waiting for them at Subiaco Oval on Saturday.

But riding six wins on the trot - something which hasn't happened at Arden Street since Wayne Carey guided the club to the 1999 premiership - the Kangaroos and McIntosh have no problems with their tyres being pumped up ahead of playing the top-of-the-table Eagles.

"We're going to go in full of confidence. We've won six in a row now so there's no reason to think we can't win," McIntosh said.

"He (Cox) is probably the best (ruckman) in the competition so it's probably my biggest test this year.

"He's pretty athletic so I've got to try to cut that bit out of his game.

"He plays like another midfielder so I'll have to get my running boots on to keep up with him this weekend."

Getting up to speed is something McIntosh believes is the least he can do for the Kangaroos, who have shown remarkable patience in bringing him on.

A top 10 draft pick in 2002, McIntosh took three years to play an AFL game and didn't start playing regularly until his fourth season.

But this year has been the breakthrough season for the 203cm, 110kg man mountain.

The 22-year-old is averaging 19 hitouts and 16 disposals per game.

McIntosh's ability to consistently get his side first use of the football has been a major factor in the Kangaroos' rise from 14th last season to serious finals contender in 2007.

"They've been pretty good with me. It's my fifth year and I've only played 26 games, so it's nice to repay the faith," McIntosh said.

"In my second year I broke my ankle, and in my third year I was trying to get my fitness up.

"Hopefully I can keep playing good footy and keep getting the wins on the board for the team."