West Coast WAFL captain Fraser McInnes says the Eagles are excited to test themselves against the league’s best when they take on Subiaco at Leederville Oval today.

McInnes hoped the Eagles’ form against Peel will carry over when they take on the most dominant team of the last five years.

“It’s a good chance for us to play what’s probably the next best test from AFL level,” McInnes said.

“For our young guys it will be a really good test physically given the way Subi play.”

With a mix of AFL and WAFL players, McInnes believes West Coast's team is starting to gel.

He was optimistic about the direction the group was heading in.

“The team’s been pretty settled, we’ve been playing some solid footy,” he said.

“It’s good to be training again with the whole team together and just keep building in the right direction, which I think we are.”

Jake Waterman loomed as an Eagle who could challenge the Lions, but Adam Simpson revealed during his press conference yesterday that the key forward had succumbed to hamstring tightness was unavailable for the fixture.

It’s a massive blow for the WAFL Eagles, especially given Waterman was coming into the contest with 10 goals from his last two state-league outings.

McInnes said he had been impressed with Waterman’s start to the season.

“He’s been hitting the scoreboard really well and he works really hard getting up and down the ground,” Waterman said.

“It’s been good working in the forward line together, but unfortunately we won’t have him on deck against the Lions.”

Subiaco are undefeated and sit second on the ladder, while the Eagles currently occupy fifth position with a 1-1 record.

The WAFL Eagles go to war with the Lions at 1.15pm today.