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West Coast coach Adam Simpson predicts the AFL preliminary final against Melbourne will be a test of will and he's confident his side can stand up to the Demons' combative style. The Eagles will start as slight favourites on Saturday given the game is in Perth but Melbourne have the momentum following four straight AFL wins. One of those victories came against West Coast in round 22, when they recorded a 17-point win at Optus Stadium. Simpson travelled to Melbourne last week to watch the Demons' semi-final win over Hawthorn and he was impressed by what he saw. "We know Melbourne are a good side. They've got momentum and they're the fairytale," Simpson told the Seven Network. "Their brand ... has been a pretty combative style of football that has been holding up in big games. "But we'd like to think we've got the same type of attitude. It will be a real test of will on the weekend." Melbourne are the highest-scoring team in the league, having averaged 104.5 points a game during the home-and-away season. West Coast ranked fifth in attack with 91.5 points a game, meaning the Eagles will be reluctant to get caught up in a shootout against the Demons. "With shootouts, there's a fair bit of a risk and a fair bit of luck in them," star Eagles forward Josh Kennedy said. 'And the Dees know how to score. They move the ball pretty quick." Melbourne jumped West Coast during their clash last month by scoring the first four goals of the match. Kennedy said his side couldn't afford to let the Demons get another hot start. "They came over and smashed us (early). They blew us out of the water," Kennedy said. "The start is very important because you don't want to sit there in a final trying to peg your way back." West Coast are expected to recall veteran defender Will Schofield to replace Brad Sheppard (hamstring).
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