WEST Coast coach Daisy Pearce has launched a playful dig at Melbourne as she prepares to front up against the club she captained to AFLW premiership glory.

Pearce is considered one of the greatest trailblazers of women's football, with the three-time All-Australian leading the Demons to the 2022 flag during her decorated playing career.

Her success has continued into the coaching realm, with Pearce leading West Coast to a club-best four wins last year, and the Eagles posting three wins from five games in a solid start to the current season.

Pearce didn't have the chance to coach against Melbourne last year but will relish her opportunity on Sunday when the Eagles travel to Casey Fields.

Melbourne (4-1) is still considered one of the flag favourites despite a shock two-point loss to Port Adelaide last week.

The Demons have built a reputation for being perennial contenders, while West Coast is considered to be a rising power under Pearce's leadership.

Eagles star Ella Roberts said having Pearce on board meant West Coast would know some of Melbourne's "secrets" heading into Sunday's game.

Pearce couldn't help herself when asked what those secrets were.

"They play a bit like us for some reason. I think they're copying," Pearce joked.

"It will be a really good challenge.

"I don't think there's anyone who respects (Demons coach) Mick (Stinear) and (captain) Kate (Hore) and their team more than me, having been able to see them up close.

"But one of the biggest things that both Mick and I and Kate and I bonded over was our competitiveness and our will to win, so that will be no different when we face each other on the weekend."

The last time West Coast played the Demons – in round seven, 2023 – it was a disaster on and off the field.

Melbourne won by 70 points, but it was what then-Eagles coach Michael Prior said afterwards that raised all sorts of eyebrows.

Prior complained that West Coast, which finished third from bottom the previous season, shouldn't have been fixtured to take on the reigning premier given the gulf between the two teams.

"Eighteen teams in the comp and only 10 games, how we play that team is beyond me. That's what you get when you get fixturing like that," Prior said at the time.

He later apologised for those comments but stood down as coach less than two weeks later.

Pearce has brought a winning mentality to the Eagles, and she wants her team to embrace the challenge of taking on an AFLW heavyweight, despite being without the suspended Emma Swanson and rising star Lucia Painter (concussion).

Sydney (4-1) will be aiming to bounce back from last week's upset 26-point loss to Collingwood when it hosts Greater Western Sydney (1-4) on Sunday.

The Swans will again be without best-and-fairest winner Sofia Hurley.

"'Sof' has had a little minor setback, nothing to do with her foot," Swans coach Scott Gowans said. 

"It's part of the process with that when you're trying to put load back into them. 

"Other things can get niggly and she's just got a little niggle. It's just not worth the risk. She's only a week or two away."