After a winless start to their AFLW season, West Coast will be confronted by one of the competition’s sternest tests at Mineral Resources Park on Sunday.

The Eagles, who will be known as Waalitj Malawar for the competition’s Indigenous Round, will be aiming to break a run of three consecutive defeats against Melbourne, who have adopted the name Naarm.

The Demons entered the fourth round of the season sitting second on the ladder, behind only powerhouses North Melbourne on percentage after winning their first three games.

And they will come into their clash with 15th-placed West Coast after making a huge statement of intent last week, smashing last year’s beaten grand finalists Brisbane by 56 points.

Eagles coach Daisy Pearce, a Melbourne legend who won an AFLW premiership in her final appearance for the club, was full of praise for the side the Demons had assembled.

“They’ve played a lot of footy together,” Pearce said.

“Just how connected they are, whether it’s defensively or how quickly they all react to get dangerous offensively, I think it’s their great strength.”

Despite not coming away with their first win of the season on the road against Adelaide last Saturday, Pearce said the Eagles had drawn confidence from the performance.

“We got a bit more out of the game that looked like us and gave us a blueprint of what’s really important for us to get after,” she said.

“We really believe in the playing group that we’ve got, and we know that our best is competitive against anyone.

“0-3 is not ideal, but the equation’s still the same. We’ve got an opportunity to knock one of those wins off this weekend.”

The Eagles have made a huge selection call for the contest, with defender Georgie Cleaver — who finished fourth in their best and fairest last season — among three omissions.

Top-up player Lisa Steane and Isabella Shannon have also come out of their side, and will be replaced by 2025 draftee Mia Russo, forward Kayla Dalgleish and utility Roxy Roux.

Melbourne have brought in forwards Maggie Mahony and Alyssia Pisano for Mia Austin (managed) and Lauren Pearce (injured).