WHERE AND WHEN: The Gabba, Sunday June 3, 1.10pm
LAST TIME: West Coast 13.11 (89) d Brisbane Lions 11.15 (81), round 13, 2011, at The Gabba
TV, RADIO AND BETTING: Click here for broadcast guide and odds
 
On paper this looks like a mismatch, with the league-leading Eagles (8-1) making the longest journey in the competition to visit the struggling Lions (3-6). Despite a raft of injuries to its forward line, West Coast keeps powering on and gave Fremantle a 48-point hiding in last weekend's derby. The Eagles had difficulty putting away the Lions when they travelled east last year and will make the trip this time without suspended Luke Shuey. The boys from Brisbane stormed home against North Melbourne last Sunday but will have to face the competition pacesetters without Simon Black (knee).

THE FOUR POINTS
BRISBANE LIONS
1. Can the Lions control the Eagles' ruck combination? Whichever way Michael Voss goes with his rucks, stopping Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui is a mammoth task. Nic Nat almost single-handedly stole the four points from the Lions last year with a fourth-quarter burst of centre bounce taps that spoon-fed his midfielders and led directly to goals.

2. Against contenders Carlton, Geelong, Essendon, Collingwood and last week against North, the Lions had effectively played themselves out of the contest by half-time. Aaron Cornelius said earlier this week if they gave the Eagles a head-start, there would be no coming back. The Lions must muscle up in the first two quarters to give themselves a chance.

3. After a slow start to the season, there are signs captain Jonathan Brown is returning to his best. In the past fortnight he has kicked seven goals and taken 26 grabs. In his 100th match as captain of the Lions - joining Michael Voss and Roger Merrett - Brown will come up against one of the great modern era full-backs in Darren Glass. Their match-up will be both intriguing and vital to the outcome.

4. He's only three games into his AFL career, but the Lions look to have unearthed a perfect forward half foil in Dayne Zorko. After coming on as a sub in his first game against Collingwood, the former AFLQ star has averaged 16 disposals, a goal and an impressive eight tackles per contest in his past two matches. Coaches - and fans - love that type of intensity.

WEST COAST
1. The Eagles have been installed as premiership favourites in some markets after their dominant win over Fremantle, and a top-two finish is highly likely if they can counter the Lions and head into their bye with a 9-1 record. The recognition has taken time given injuries to key players Mark LeCras, Josh Kennedy and Mark Nicoski, and the Eagles were reluctant to accept the title this week. With seven games still to come at Patersons Stadium, however, it's one with which they will likely enter September.
 
2. Wingmen Matt Rosa and Andrew Gaff enjoyed an uncontested ball feast at Patersons Stadium in round nine and can't be given the same freedom by the Lions. The hard-running pair combined for 38 handball receives, 58 uncontested possessions and 17 inside 50s. Clubs continue to target premiership on-baller Daniel Kerr with their hard tag, and players like Rosa and Gaff are benefitting.    
 
3. West Coast has regained its contested marking edge after a lean spell, winning the indicator 20-8 against Fremantle. The Eagles had more contested grabs than their opposition in the opening four rounds (+28), but they battled in the air for three weeks following Josh Kennedy's ankle injury. Jack Darling, Cox and Naitanui have lifted in the last fortnight, while captain Glass was brilliant in the air against Fremantle.  
 
4. Koby Stevens played a full game against GWS in round three, but the tough on-baller has only managed one quarter since, playing as the substitute against Essendon in round eight. The 20-year-old appears next in line when there is a midfield opening and Shuey's one-week suspension could allow the Eagles to test him over a full four quarters.

AFL.com.au prediction: West Coast by 34 points

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL