St Kilda star Leigh Montagna believes West Coast’s form on the road has been amplified by who they have played away from home, but says they are one of the biggest challenges in the game on their home patch.

West Coast has lost all three games outside of Western Australia this season, although all three losses have come against bona-fide premiership contenders in reigning premiers Hawthorn at the MCG, Sydney at the SCG and Geelong at Simonds Stadium.

But at Domain Stadium, Adam Simpson’s side boasts one of the most imposing home records in the game. West Coast has won their past nine at the venue and 18 of 20, including the last encounter between the two sides in Round 23 last year by 95-points.

Friday Microscope: Round 8 v West Coast

Montagna, who is averaging 29.1 possessions per game across the first seven rounds to be one of the Saints’ prime movers, says the Eagles at home is a big test, but the Saints are travelling west full of confidence following their impressive effort against ladder leaders North Melbourne.

“Obviously they’re a much better team at home than on the road at the moment, but they’ve played against some pretty good teams away from home – Geelong, Sydney and Hawthorn,” Montagna told Fox Sport’s AFL Tonight on Thursday.

“We know it’s going to be a challenge, we know we’re going to have to match their contest work around the ball with [Matt] Priddis and [Nic] Naitanui in the ruck.

“But we’re going to go over there full of confidence. We know if we play our best football we can match it against, hopefully, anyone. That will be a big challenge over in Perth.”

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West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui’s dominance at the stoppages in the first seven rounds has provided the Eagles with a sizeable advantage around the ball, leading his side to be ranked No. 1 for hitouts and hitouts to advantage differential.

With the Eagles possessing the All Australian in the air and Brownlow medallist Matt Priddis at ground level, plus Luke Shuey on the burst, Montagna revealed St Kilda has had to spend extra time analysing how to break down West Coast’s trickery around stoppages this week.

“You’ve just got to be more aware of their little tricks. Because Naitanui is so dominant, Shuey might get on the fly or they run a few more patterns or tricks,” Montagna said.

“So you do just have to probably study a bit harder, prepare a bit more for their moves and counter that with strong contested footy.

“Tom Hickey’s doing a great job in the ruck so as long as he competes and doesn’t let Naitanui flick it around wherever he likes, we’ll back our mids in.”

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