ROUND 5 PREVIEW V EAST PERTH

WEST Perth might be missing up to two handfuls of first choice players for Saturday's first derby of 2016 against East Perth at Medibank Stadium, but that won't stop the Falcons throwing everything at getting a crucial four points.

East Perth and West Perth have met in some bigger games on more important stages in recent years, but Saturday's first derby at Medibank Stadium will be crucial for where both end up in 2016.

The Royals and Falcons both enter the clash with 1-3 records so trying to come back from 1-4 will be difficult. However, improving to 2-3 will likely put the winner in the top-five by the end of the round and keep them in a good position to make a strong run in 2016.

And coming into the contest, East Perth will be buoyed by its first win of the season last Saturday against Peel Thunder by 30 points following losses to Claremont, Subiaco and South Fremantle to open 2016.

That was the Royals' best and most complete performance so far of 2016 and they will now be looking to build on that come Saturday in their first crack at West Perth since the Falcons beat them in last year's preliminary final.

West Perth, meanwhile, is coming off a 50-point loss to East Fremantle where the Falcons went goalless in the first and last quarters last Saturday at ATOM Stadium.

The Falcons will also still be without No. 1 ruckman Chris Keunen, prolific midfielder Shane Nelson, hard man Kody Manning, important defenders Joe Morrow and Laine Rasmussen, and quality leaders Luke Tedesco and Andrew Strijk for Saturday's derby against East Perth.

That's a lot of quality and experience out of the West Perth team but the Falcons' focus will be on making a stronger start after that has let them down in all four games so far in 2016, and on keeping possession of the ball better given a high possession game has been their great strength in recent years.

East Perth and West Perth have met in the 2013 grand final and 2015 preliminary final, so there has been more at stake in derbies in recent years but now the fate of their ability to contend in 2016 could very well depend on the result come Saturday afternoon at Medibank Stadium.

In the absence of senior players including Strijk, Tedesco, Keunen, Nelson, Rasmussen, Manning and Morrow, West Perth will look to some youth to try and reinvigorate its playing group in search of a win over East Perth to avoid slipping to a 1-4 record.

Nathan Alexandre and Mitch Peirce remain in the mix to make their league debuts with the Falcons after continued impressive form in the reserves.

Last week against East Fremantle, Alexandre had 12 possessions, five tackles and a goal while Peirce finished with another 23 disposals, seven marks and four inside-50 entries.

Ben King is also a chance to come in for West Perth to strengthen the back-line and to play his first league game since 2014 after taking last season off.

Tyson Moulton is another potential debutant with the strong left-footer coming off 13 possessions in the reserves last week against the Sharks.

Max Duffy is another important player for West Perth who will miss Saturday's derby against East Perth at Leederville. His derby debut against the Royals will have to wait until potentially WA Day.

East Perth got on the board in 2016 with its first win over Peel Thunder last Saturday and will be looking to build on that momentum on Saturday against its fiercest of rivals.

To help in that cause, East Perth will field what appears to be a significantly stronger line-up on paper with the help of some West Coast Eagles players back in the Royals' 22.

Collingwood premiership player Sharrod Wellingham is making his return from a knee injury and will play for East Perth on Saturday while Tom Lamb and Luke Partington both come straight back in after missing last Saturday's win over Peel.

Mark Hutchings will also be straight back into the East Perth midfield after missing last week's game with the Thunder while Tom Cole and Patrick McGinnity will both play for the Royals.

Given West Coast plays Richmond at Domain Stadium on Friday night, there's no need for the Eagles to hold out any of their players from East Perth to be an emergency from Saturday's game with the Falcons.

There are other players pushing for selection in the reserves at East Perth as well including Shayne Hille who had 26 possessions and a goal last Saturday against Peel. Tom Omodei racked up 27 possessions and laid seven tackles while Agid Gardoud had 13 disposals and two goals.

West Perth coach Bill Monaghan knows East Perth will be tough opposition but hopes the importance of the occasion lifts his group.

"They've got some quality with their own players plus the aligned players. Hutchy might come back after missing last week, Lamb was held over so he might play this week so they will have a strong team," Monaghan said.

"West Coast plays Friday so they won't need to hold anyone out of East Perth, but all we can do is plan for their very best and try to be better. With a final five and a few other things in play like a couple of sides on top going really well and not losing yet, we've lost three of our first four and we're sixth.

"We are above three sides which I find really amazing and whilst Claremont has played one less game, we are one game from Peel in fourth. It's far from the end of the penny section, but we need to make sure we get back in the winner's list and a derby is a good way to get people back and focused. Hopefully we come out firing from the start and it will be a cracking game."

ROUND 5
EAST PERTH (1-3, 8th) v WEST PERTH (1-3, 6th) – MEDIBANK STADIUM, SATURDAY 2.15PM
Broadcast – 720 ABC Perth, 107.3 HFM

LEAGUE TEAMS, LIVE STATS 
RESERVES TEAMS, LIVE STATS 
COLTS TEAMS, LIVE STATS