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West Coast and Essendon will face off in a sudden-death elimination final at a sold-out Optus Stadium on Thursday night.

PREVIEW OF ELIMINATION FINAL BETWEEN WEST COAST AND ESSENDON (Time in AEST)

THURSDAY, Sept 5

West Coast v Essendon at Optus Stadium, 8.10pm

Head to head: Eagles 24 Bombers 29 Drawn 0

Last clash: Round 14, 2019 - Eagles 14.22 (106) bt Bombers 11.5 (71) at Optus Stadium

West Coast blew the chance of a top-four berth with their 38-point loss to Hawthorn, but they will start hot favourites against the inconsistent Bombers. The return of ruckman Nic Naitanui is a huge boost to West Coast's ruck prospects, while the Bombers welcome back skipper Dyson Heppell (foot), Cale Hooker (illness), Orazio Fantasia (hip) and Jake Stringer (hamstring). Essendon have named star defender Michael Hurley less than two weeks after he dislocated his shoulder. Eagles skipper Shannon Hurn has been named despite his recent hamstring scare, but Oscar Allen goes out with knee soreness. West Coast beat Essendon by 35 points in Perth seven weeks ago, but the final margin could have easily been 10 goals such was the Eagles' dominance.

Key: West Coast's intercept kings. If defenders Jeremy McGovern and Tom Barrass get into their groove, Essendon will struggle to kick a winning score. The Eagles need to keep a close eye on Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, with the goalsneak becoming somewhat of a barometer for Essendon.

Tip: Eagles by 41 points