ROUND 22 PREVIEW V EAST FREMANTLE

WEST Perth and East Fremantle meet in another massive Round 22 clash at Arena Joondalup on Sunday with a big crowd expected with the Sharks needing to knock off the in-form second-placed Falcons.

West Perth is in outstanding form having now won three straight games and seven of its last eight games this season to sit on a 13-5 record to be looking strong in second position on the ladder to be on track for a double chance come finals time.

East Fremantle is just hoping to make the finals, though, coming off playing in last year's grand final but a mid-season then slump that saw the Sharks go on a run of losing six from seven matches to give themselves an uphill task.

However, East Fremantle has won its last four games against Subiaco, the Lions again, South Fremantle and Perth to put itself back within a chance but the Sharks do need to keep winning.

East Fremantle is still precariously placed with a 9-8 record and games to finish the season against West Perth, Swan Districts and Claremont so a win over the Falcons this Sunday is crucial.

The two teams have met twice already this season with West Perth winning a high-scoring affair 24.8 (152) to 21.3 (129) in Round 8 at East Fremantle Oval and then also at the same ground in Round 13 holding on to win by 14 points.

West Perth coach Bill Monaghan knows that the Falcons will have to be at their best to knock off the Sharks for a third time this season on Sunday.

"We have had two cracking games against East Fremantle so far. There was a high-scoring one with 44 goals kicked and you could argue it was the most exciting game of the year," Monaghan said.

"Then in the second game I thought we played really well and to East Fremantle's credit they came hard at us late to close the game within a kick before we kicked away again at the end.

"We know at their very best they are a talented side and we will have to wait and see for the make up of their side."

Not only does West Perth have the added motivation of trying to win for Ray Bartholomew's 150th WAFL game to earn him life membership at the club, it's also a big day set for Arena Joondalup to celebrate International Round.

Last year's day was a huge success with West Perth wearing a popular and striking jumper featuring the Union Jack with over 6000 people attending the game.

This year the Falcons will again wear a specially designed jumper with plenty in place to celebrate the day on Sunday including thousands of tickets already having been given to local school kids, a kids zone featuring bounce castles, face painting, a super slide, show bags and a free skills clinic.

There will also be international food stalls and a British beer tent featured around Arena Joondalup.

West Perth is likely the form team of the competition outside of its disappointing loss at home to South Fremantle back in Round 18 but does lose some more key players to injury this week against East Fremantle.

With Jay van Berlo, Michael Pettigrew, Michael Johnson and Matt Johnson already on the sidelines, Luke Tedesco and Chris Keunen are now out of the line-up to take on the Sharks with Jordan Jones also an unlikely starter.

However, the Falcons welcome back reigning Breckler Medal winner Mark Hutchings who was surprisingly dropped by West Coast last week despite some impressive AFL form.

Hutchings has averaged 27 possessions in his eight games for West Perth this season and adds some more bite to a midfield already including Matt Guadagnin, Shane Nelson, Steve Potente and Aaron Black.

Brayden Antonio, James Batterham, Ben McNamara and Luke Meadows are all in the mix to play for West Perth as well against East Fremantle, and if McNamara and Meadows are selected it will be their league debuts.

East Fremantle loses West Coast midfielder Daniel Kerr from the team that beat Perth two weeks ago before the Foxtel Cup grand final but his Eagles teammate Jacob Brennan does return.

Former Perth player Michael Edwards continues to push for his East Fremantle debut after crossing from the Demons to Sharks mid-season while young Fremantle half-forward Alex Howson a chance to make his official WAFL debut after previously playing for the Sharks in the Foxtel Cup.

Former Brisbane Lions-listed player Kieran King is also pressing his claims for selection with the Sharks for what would be his first league appearance for 2013.

Even if Kerr and leading goalkicker Ryan Lester-Smith aren’t there for the Sharks, Monaghan is fully aware they have plenty of talent in their line-up.

"They could bring in three AFL-listed players to top up a lot of their good local players and they are good down back with Dodd and Howlett," Monaghan said.

"They get a bit of run off half-back with Bayliss and Schofield, O'Brien and McGough win a lot of footy through the middle and then they have a really different forward-line with talent with guys like Dick, Duffy and Simpson, and some good bigs with Young and Perham so even with Lester-Smith out they have a bit of X-factor.

"They are a hard side to match up on and coming off their Foxtel Cup defeat, and a week's rest you will think they will throw everything at us and they need to win. That's probably good for us to play a side that is desperate to keep us honest and focused, and we will need to be at our best to beat them."

BY CHRIS PIKE