THE APPRENTICE faces his master for the first time this weekend when Adam Simpson coaches against Alastair Clarkson in Saturday night's blockbuster between West Coast and Hawthorn.

Simpson spent four seasons as an assistant under Clarkson at Hawthorn between 2010 and 2013.

Former Clarkson assistants are coaching three of the top six sides on the AFL ladder after 18 rounds. Greater Western Sydney sits 10^th under Leon Cameron, another former assistant of Clarkson's.

Cameron and Richmond coach Damien Hardwick have both got the better of their former mentor this year.

But in Simpson's first season as the Eagles' senior coach he did not come up against his former mentor.

Clarkson missed the round 12 clash last year after he was struck down with Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Hawks assistant Brendon Bolton took charge as the Hawks trounced West Coast by 44 points.

But when the apprentice finally meets his master on Saturday night it will be a vastly different Eagles side.

Dean Cox and Darren Glass both played in round 12 last year. It was Glass' last game, as he retired only a few days later, while Cox managed just six more matches.

Mitch Brown and Eric Mackenzie were also playing. Both have been sidelined all this year as the Eagles have ascended to second on the ladder.

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But more than personnel, Simpson has got his side playing with confidence and belief.

He admits there are elements of Hawthorn's game-plan that you can clearly see in the Eagles' ball movement and defensive structures, but he believes West Coast has evolved from being just another Hawthorn. 

Where the apprentice is becoming a master is in his ability to develop players.

Since Simpson has walked through the doors at Patersons Stadium he has described himself as an educator.

Former Eagles captain Ross Glendinning told AFL.com.au that Simpson spoke to the Eagles staff the day after his appointment in September 2013.

"He said; 'I'm not going to rant and rave about a whole lot of footy philosophies, I'll just tell you what I am, I'm a communicator and an educator'," Glendinning said.

"And those are the two platforms that he uses with the players, the coaching group and the footy department. That's his real strength."

Eagles defender, and former Hawk, Xavier Ellis believes that Simpson's ability to connect with the players on a personal level has been the reason why so many of the Eagles' talented youngsters have taken their game to another level.

"I think from the start he just built personal relationships," Ellis told AFL.com.au.

"The coach is not there to embarrass anyone. He's there to be a friend and a guide for the guys.

"I think that was the most important thing, establishing relationships and then the feedback is never too negative. He's such a positive guy and a young guy.

"He hasn't been out of the game too long so he knows the challenges. He's not blind to how hard guys work.

"He just really loves the young kids and never really cracks down too hard on them, which is what they need, a bit of guidance, a bit of help and we're sort of seeing it with Dom Sheed, Brad Sheppard has been awesome this year, Nic Nat has even gone to another level.

"Just those sort of guys that are potentially really, really good players have just gone to that level. He's just nurtured them and nurtured everyone.

"There's no right or wrong. He always helps you."

Simpson takes no credit for the talent that was recruited to West Coast before he arrived, nor does he shy away from praising former coach John Worsfold for the work ethic he instilled into the Eagles group.

He believes his next challenge is not for the Eagles to become the new Hawthorn, but rather to try and reach the benchmark the Hawks have set. 

To be the best, you've got to beat the best, and Saturday night will be the Eagles' biggest test yet.