West Coast coach Andrew McQualter says the western derby deserves to be a standalone Friday night fixture as his team gears up to take on their cross-town rivals in front of a sellout crowd.
The Eagles and Dockers have faced off on a Friday just once before - in 2005 - but their encounter this Friday night will be lost to many football fans on the east coast.
That's because the main Friday night fixture this round is the heavyweight bout between Geelong and Melbourne at the MCG, with that game starting just 30 minutes before the match at Perth's Optus Stadium.
While Fremantle are flag favourites, West Coast have been stuck in the doldrums for the past five years and are not quite worthy of being handed regular glamour fixtures just yet.
But with West Coast's band of exciting youngsters growing in stature by the day, there's hope the Eagles will be a force to be reckoned with in the next few years.
McQualter would love to see more Friday night western derbies - and he feels they deserve their own stage.
"For me personally, I would love it to be a standalone Friday night game," McQualter said.
"I think that we would have the whole country watching, and we've got to ensure that we play our part in that and make sure it's a competitive game, which is our aim for (Friday) night."
West Coast have performed well on the big stage this year.
They were competitive in Scott Pendlebury's record-breaking 433rd AFL game at a packed MCG in round 11, and they also put up a good showing in a Friday night clash with Adelaide three weeks ago.
"I think it just builds a belief for when we get the opportunity to play in those big games in finals," McQualter said.
"We're not going to (get that chance) this year clearly, but when we do, we've had examples of being able to stand up on the big stage prior."
Ladder leaders Fremantle (16-2) will be without Hayden Young and Brennan Cox (managed), but welcome back Shai Bolton from a hand niggle as they attempt to win their fifth derby on the trot.
West Coast (4-14) have replaced Liam Baker (suspended), Jack Graham (managed) and Jack Hutchinson (hamstring) with Ryan Maric, Harvey Johnston and Sandy Brock.
Melbourne (12-6) have won all nine of their games at the MCG this year, but ninth-placed Geelong (10-8) will be aiming to crash the party as they attempt to stay in touch with the top six.
Geelong welcome back Tanner Bruhn and Mark Blicavs, but Max Holmes (ankle) and Ollie Henry (managed) go out.
Melbourne have lost Daniel Turner (rib), Changkuoth Jiath (leg) and Caleb Windsor (groin soreness) among their five changes, with Harrison Petty and Lukas Cooke among the inclusions.
