West Coast midfielder Daniel Kerr says the Eagles are unfazed over a six-day break and a trip to Melbourne heading into their semi-final against Collingwood at the MCG.
The Eagles face three matches on the road if they are to win the premiership, starting with Saturday night's clash with the Magpies.
Kerr says the Eagles play away from Perth so regularly during the home-and-way season that the players are used to travelling interstate.
"We travel so much that I would say we're one of the better travelling teams in the AFL," he said.
"It's just routine."
Kerr also joked that family duties made it easier for the Eagles to travel interstate for matches.
"We've got a few guys with kids so a lot of us prefer travelling. We get a sleep-in," said Kerr, whose partner gave birth to their first child last year.
The Eagles have lost their past six matches to Collingwood at the MCG, with their most recent victory at the venue against the Magpies coming way back in round two, 1995.
They are confident of finally breaking that 17-year hoodoo, especially after trouncing North Melbourne by 96 points in Sunday's elimination final at Subiaco Oval.
But Kerr says it would be dangerous for the Eagles to assume their solid performance against the Kangaroos will translate across to their match against the Magpies.
"If we play the type of football we aim to play and if we play with the intensity that we know we can play for four quarters, I think we can definitely go all the way," he said.
"But if we drop off for even 10 minutes in a game from now on, I don't think we'll win."
The Eagles thrashed the Magpies by 49 points when the teams met in Perth a fortnight ago.
In that match, the Magpies were without ruckman Darren Jolly, and subsequently lost the hit-outs 60-12, the clearances 48-23, the inside 50s count 53-33 and contested possessions 142-109.
Kerr predicts the presence of Jolly for this weekend's re-match will drastically change the complexion of the contest, especially in the midfield where the Magpies boast a glut of stars such as Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan, Dale Thomas and Dayne Beams.
"I assume they'll go head to head again with us in the midfield, but with Jolly in it will be a lot harder for us to get first hands on the ball," he said.
The Eagles will be without injured defender Beau Waters (foot) and might also lose forward Quinten Lynch to suspension, but wingman Matt Rosa is a chance to make an earlier-than-expected return from a fractured collarbone.
"Structurally Matt Rosa is probably our best player," he said.
"He sets up in positions that really helps the team. He's a selfless player and he's up there in the top five runners in our team.
"To have him come back would be a huge plus."
The Magpies will be without skipper Nick Maxwell after he accepted a two-week ban for his off-the-ball hit on Hawthorn's Paul Puopolo.
AAP
Tags: australian-football-league, sport, perth-6000 First posted September 11, 2012 15:21:26
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