GOALS: West Coast: J Hill 4, J Darling 2, J Kennedy 2, C Sinclair, E Yeo, L Shuey, M Hutchings, M Rosa, P McGinnity, S Lycett. Fremantle: M Walters 4, M Pavlich 2, C Mayne, D Mundy, J Griffin, S Hill, T Sheridan.

BEST: West Coast: J Hill, L Shuey, M Rosa, A Gaff, S Hurn, J Kennedy. Fremantle: S Hill, D Mundy, N Fyfe, A Sandilands, M Walters, T Sheridan.

Injuries: West Coast: J Cripps (jaw), S Lycett (knee), W Schofield (hamstring). Fremantle: M Johnson (head).

Reports: Fremantle: A Silvagni (Fremantle) reported for striking J Cripps (West Coast) in second quarter.

Umpires: Shaun Ryan, Jeff Dalgleish, Scott Jeffery.

Official Crowd: 41,958 at Domain Stadium.

The premiership challenge from Western Australia is legitimately two-pronged.

Despite missing key players to injury, suspension and personal issues, West Coast produced an early ambush to set up an upset 24-point win over Fremantle on Sunday.

And with the victory comes a reality that the two Perth-based sides could hold their current spots on the AFL ladder – first and second – for the remaining three home and away rounds, giving them a massive advantage in the finals.

The Eagles kicked the first six goals against the Dockers and seven to one in the first term to open up a commanding 35-point quarter-time lead. It was a massive turnaround from round 3 when the Dockers booted the first 11 goals of that western derby.

West Coast then held off a final-term comeback by the Dockers on Sunday, when the margin was quickly reduced from 38 to just 18. But two quick goals late in the term from Josh Hill (of his four for the game), recalled for the suspended Mark LeCras, ended the Dockers run.

The victory broke a run of six derby wins to Fremantle and helped West Coast hold on to second spot on the ladder.

With Hawthorn lurking just two points behind, they will probably need to win their remaining three games, against the Western Bulldogs (home), Adelaide (away) and St Kilda (home) to stay there.

But after their performance on Sunday, and the likely return of LeCras and Nic Naitanui to face the Dogs, they will have confidence in doing so. A week after losing to the dual reigning premier Hawthorn by just 14 points, they restricted the top side to just two goals in the opening half of football.

They do have a growing concern about their defence though after Will Schofield was subbed out of the game early in the third term with a left leg injury.

The Eagles are backing their team defence to stand up against any side, regardless of personnel and it did so in the top-of-the-table clash on Sunday, but with Jeremy McGovern likely to miss at least the next two games with a hamstring injury, their choices are now limited.

The Dockers have a couple of issues of their own. Alex Silvagni is looking at a lengthy stint on the sidelines, reported after an incident 50m from play in the second term left Jamie Cripps struggling on the ground.

The Eagles forward had to be helped from the field, and he was holding his jaw, although he did return after being cleared of concussion. Silvagni, playing just his second game this season due to hamstring injuries and his ninth in two years, was replacing Zac Dawson who was sitting out the last of a two-week suspension of his own.

Michael Johnson was returning for his first game since round 10, while Luke McPharlin was forced out of the side late in the week due to a cork.

And as a result the Eagles were able to find multiple goal scorers, particularly early. A 20-7 free kicks count in the first half also helped.

Andrew Gaff, Chris Masten and Mark Hutchings started the game full of running and had 22 touches between them in the opening term. For Fremantle, Danyle Pearce, Nat Fyfe and Michael Barlow had only five between them.

The day got better for Fyfe, returning from two weeks out with a groin injury. He had 13 possessions in the third term and David Mundy had nine, but the Dockers were unable to make any inroads on the scoreboard.

Still, kicking goals remains an issue for Fremantle.

West Coast have emerged as a serious premiership threat, moving back into second on the ladder with star players ready to return.

Set to reclaim Nic Naitnaui from personal leave and Mark LeCras from suspension next week, they are likely to only get stronger after an emphatic victory in the Perth derby on Sunday.

The Eagles are in the box seat to join Fremantle in hosting a qualifying final after beating the Dockers by 24 points in an at-times spiteful affair at Domain Stadium.

"We don't rely on anyone," forward Josh Kennedy told Fox Footy after the match.

The Dockers remain six points clear on top of the ladder, but West Coast's win saw them jump back ahead of Hawthorn, and means that barring an upset loss to either West Australian side in the season's final three weeks, the Hawks will be forced to travel to Perth at least once in the finals if they are to win their third consecutive premiership.

Should the ladder remain as it stands at the completion of round 20, Hawthorn would face West Coast as one of two qualifying finals at Domain Stadium, with the Dockers hosting the other. The Hawks did beat the Eagles last week.

Former Eagles coach Ken Judge said during the games that West Coast have "just got [Fremantle] covered at the moment."

"It's difficult to see Fremantle scoring goals,"Judge told ABC radio in Perth.

"It's a concern in general for Fremantle."

The Eagles will face top-four opposition for the third consecutive week when they take on the rampant Western Bulldogs at home next Sunday.

The Bulldogs are themselves in the tremendous form, having recorded four straight wins including a 98-point drubbing of Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Sunday. West Coast also have Adelaide (Adelaide Oval) and St Kilda (Domain) to round out their home and away campaign.

There will be worries mid-week for the Dockers, with defender Alex Silvagni reported for a second quarter incident in which he struck Eagle Jamie Cripps behind the play.