West Coast's clash with Port Adelaide frames as the weekends match of the round.

And it fits beautifully with the developing rivalry between the two sides after last years extra-time elimination final at the Adelaide Oval.

Hamish Hartlett acknowledged that fact on Adelaide radio during the week.

“Were starting to build a nice little rivalry with West Coast. There will still be a bit of unfinished business for the guys who played in last years final to get one over them.”

The Eagles (5-1) have been the surprise packet of the season, sitting equal top with Richmond, while Port Adelaide entered 2018 under the weight of expectation.

The Power topped-up their list with Jack Watts, Tom Rockliff and Steve Motlop in the off-season in their chase for a second AFL premiership.

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West Coast started Simpsons fifth year in charge undergoing a mini rebuild after the retirements of Matt Priddis and Sam Mitchell as they try to establish their next premiership midfield.

I've called several battles between these two sides in the past … here's what Im looking at heading into the match.

NIC NAT, PADDY WHACK!

This is one of the great head-to-head ruck battles in the AFL.

Ryder is the reigning All-Australian ruckman and is probably the only one in the competition who can go with Naitanui athletically.

It will be a lot of fun to watch the two native West Aussies go heads up on the weekend. Hopefully Ryder is fit enough upon his return from an Achilles injury to play to somewhere near his best.

Port Adelaide have spoken openly about setting up negatively in the expectation of losing taps in the absence of Ryder. Now they at least have a chance of first use when they need it most.

FORWARD 50 EFFICIENCY

Port Adelaide recognised in the wake of last season that their forward 50 efficiency wasnt what it needed to be.

It is why they recruited Watts and Motlop, to improve their ball movement entering the attacking 50 and finishing inside it.

One of Ken Hinkleys pet hates is opposition defenders taking marks like Jeremy McGovern and Tom Barrass do.

When Port Adelaide go slow they enter the attacking 50 at the diagonal and go wide into the pockets.

If McGovern and Barrass are taking marks and/or Port are slow in their build up and heading long into the pockets, West Coast will be the happier of the two teams.

JOSH KENNEDY VS. TOM JONAS

Josh Kennedy had his crowning moment last week, surpassing Peter Sumich as the new Eagles goal-kicking king.

Tom Jonas was the man for the job against Ben Brown last week and, while the big Roo booted four, Jonas did a respectable job.

Jonas gives up 7cm and 9kg to Kennedy, but can play slightly bigger than he is.

He will need help from his fellow Port defenders to curtail the Eagles forward.

Interestingly, Port Adelaide have gone for a more mobile defence with the inclusion of Jasper Pittard and omission of Tom Clurey.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME?

Both teams have been accused of being flat-track bullies in the past, but an anomaly is that last season the away team won all three of their encounters.

West Coast won by 10 points over Port in round seven at Adelaide Oval.

Port returned the favour with a 32-point win at Domain Stadium later in the year. Scores were level at three quarter time before the Power booted eight goals to three in the final term.

The Eagles won in extra-time against Port in the elimination final.

But West Coast have turned their new home at Optus Stadium into a happy hunting ground, winning three of their four matches there in 2018.

Ben Cameron is an AFL Nation commentator and Sportsday producer

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