WEST Coast will unfurl its fourth premiership flag against Greater Western Sydney in a primetime Saturday evening blockbuster at Optus Stadium in round two.
A Grand Final rematch with Collingwood had been speculated, but the Pies will reportedly take on preliminary final combatants Richmond in a Friday night showdown instead.
DOUBLE-HEADER Two Good Friday games locked in
Next season will be the first time in four years the previous campaign's Grand Final sides haven't faced off in round two.
It has instead been confirmed the Eagles will host the Giants on March 30 at 5.10pm (AWST) in their first home game for the season, almost certainly in front of a sell-out crowd close to 60,000 fans.
ROUND ONE Who plays who?
The clash will be GWS' second trip to Optus Stadium after an 11-point defeat to West Coast in round 16 this year.
More than 52,000 people attended that Sunday afternoon encounter, when the Eagles snapped a three-game losing streak against a similarly injury-hit Giants outfit.
MORE FIXTURE REVEALS Prime time Canberra, Blues in Tassie
West Coast will begin its premiership defence with a Saturday night clash in Brisbane in round one.
The Eagles are unlikely to fly back to Perth until the following day, when the Giants will host Essendon at Spotless Stadium to kick-off their 2019 campaign.
West Coast's round two clash with Greater Western Sydney will be the final match before star onballer Andrew Gaff can return from his eight-game suspension.
