THIS is the match of the round and the result will have significant ramifications for the finals.
If the Eagles can beat the Hawks they can almost guarantee a top-two spot and force Alastair Clarkson's men to travel to Perth again in September.
Hawthorn will be primed to bounce back from their loss to Richmond last week and they will want to assert their authority over an Eagles side that is aspiring to their lofty standards.
Both sides are exceptional at locking the ball in their forward half, and the team that controls the football will win the match.
WHERE AND WHEN
Domain Stadium, Saturday, August 8, 5.40pm AWST (7.40pm AEST)
TV AND RADIO
Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R12, 2014, Hawthorn 19.9 (123) d West Coast 12.7 (79) at Aurora Stadium
R13, 2013, Hawthorn 19.9 (123) d West Coast 16.7 (103) at Etihad Stadium
R2, 2013, Hawthorn 23.10 (148) d West Coast 15.8 (98) at Domain Stadium
R23, 2012, Hawthorn 14.11 (95) d West Coast 10.10 (70) at the MCG
R4, 2012, West Coast 5.12 (51) d Hawthorn 5.16 (46) at Domain Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. Jarryd Roughead kicked eight goals the last time these sides met in Launceston. Jordan Lewis gathered 30 possessions and Luke Hodge 28. Luke Shuey was the Eagles' best with 29 touches but Josh Kennedy was missing through injury.
2. The Hawks are ranked first for inside 50s in 2015 averaging 58.2 per game, while the Eagles are second at 56.5 per game.
3. The combatants are also the top-two scoring sides and have taken the most marks inside 50 this year. Hawthorn is ranked first in both categories, narrowly ahead of the Eagles.
4. The teams haven't met at Domain Stadium since 2013. West Coast has won three of the last four clashes at the venue. The Hawks have lost two of their last three in Perth.
5. Hawthorn's final score of 7.11 (53) in round 18 against Richmond was their lowest score this season. It was only the second time the Hawks had kicked less than 10 goals in a game this year and the Hawks' lowest score in any game since round four, 2012.
6. Neither team has a player ranked in the top 10 of the Official AFL Player Ratings. Nic Naitanui is the highest ranked Eagle at 13. Jarryd Roughead is the highest ranked Hawk at 19.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Elliot Yeo
Richmond's Anthony Miles made a name for himself last week against the Hawks and Yeo can do the same this week. He's had a great year to-date and a strong performance here would give the Eagles a big chance in a big game.
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