Mackenzie wants another shot at Pavlich

DOMINANT: Matthew Pavlich kicked eight goals in the second derby clash last season. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: HWT Image Library

WEST Coast stopper Eric Mackenzie says he owes Matthew Pavlich after the Fremantle champion booted eight goals to lead the Dockers to a stirring Western Derby triumph in Round 19 last season.

As the Eagles suffered another setback with veteran Mark Nicoski placed on the long-term injury list as he battles to overcome hamstring surgery, Mackenzie is preparing for another showdown with the Dockers skipper.

The power defender said he would watch a tape of the pair's last encounter this week as he prepared to take on Pavlich again in one of the key match-ups in Saturday's Round 1 twilight derby at Patersons Stadium.

"I definitely take pride in the one-on-one match-ups," Mackenzie said.

"I'm looking to get one back on him - that would be good - but we'll take the win."

Mackenzie, 24, said the Eagles were expecting Pavlich at his best despite the 31-year-old's restricted pre-season.

Pavlich will enter the derby with just one pre-season hit-out under his belt following an injury-interrupted summer.

"He'll be at his best," Mackenzie said.

"He's pretty good with his recovery and things like that, so I'd imagine he's going to be fit and firing."

Mackenzie was confident he would learn from Pavlich's Glendinning Medal-winning performance last year and believed a stronger West Coast effort in the midfield would also help him.

"You're always going to have tough outings like that: it's just how you go the next week," Mackenzie said.

"I'll go back and watch a bit of footage of him. He's a very smart player. He's such a big presence out there that he just demands the ball.

"He's got a big tank and he's strong and he knows where the ball's going. He's played a lot of footy, so they know where to kick the ball to him."

Mackenzie has a huge opening to the new season, with his dual with Pavlich to be followed by the job on Lance Franklin when the Eagles host Hawthorn in Round 2.

"There's not many easy match-ups these days, but those two are probably two of the best," he said.

Mackenzie has developed into a cornerstone of West Coast's defence, forming a stable back six, along with fellow talls Darren Glass and Will Schofield and Shannon Hurn, Beau Waters and Sam Butler.

"We've played a lot of footy together now," Mackenzie said.

"Probably the past three seasons consistently we've had the same eight or nine blokes rotating through there."

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