Pie match-ups need Eagle eye: Worsfold

WEST Coast coach John Worsfold is confident his young side can win the match-ups against a white hot Collingwood on Saturday night, with key backman Beau Waters and star on-baller Daniel Kerr set to return from injury.

The Eagles won nearly every position on the ground on Saturday against Adelaide, with Scott Thompson the sole Crow to break free of his opponent’s claws.

But Collingwood has become a far from predictable foe in 2008, and feature a small and hugely talented forward line including Leon Davis, Alan Didak, Paul Medhurst and Dale Thomas.

The quartet has combined for 63 goals this season, including eight majors in the 56-point win over Geelong on Friday night.

“That’s what this week’s all about. Our planning for Collingwood will take into account how they line up and how they use their players,” Worsfold said on Wednesday.

“They are doing a lot of things that are fairly unique in terms of their rotations through the midfield and forward, so we’ll take all those things into account when selecting the side this week.

“We’ve played Collingwood with that similar structure in the past year or so … it’s not something that we haven’t come up against before and don’t think we can deal with.”

Certainly the Eagles pushed Collingwood as far as possible without achieving victory in last September’s extra-time semi-final. And they enter this match with virtually the entire side in good form.

“There’s certainly matches where the match-ups finish in your favour. It’s rare when every one of them maybe finishes in your favour, but pretty much that’s the way it felt the other night. But that’s more credit to the individuals and their performances,” Worsfold said.

“I thought there were some outstanding individual performances on great opponents that helped the team win.”

Worsfold said Waters and Kerr would both be given every opportunity to play, even if they weren’t declared fit after Wednesday’s training session.

Waters will be a welcome addition to a backline that now includes Andrew Embley and Tyson Stenglein, while Kerr will once again spearhead the young Eagles midfield after sustaining a lower leg injury in the Hall of Fame Tribute Match three weeks ago.

“I would think that they’re both likely to be available this week,” the coach said.

Ruckman Mark Seaby and midfielder Sam Butler will both come under strong consideration for the MCG clash. Butler has not played since the 2006 Grand Final and has played five straight games in the WAFL, while Seaby has been impressive in the ruck for WAFL side West Perth.