Dockers attempt first step towards historic all Perth Grand Final

The Fremantle Dockers will host perennial achievers, the Hawthorn Hawks, at Subiaco Oval in Perth tonight - in what could be the first step towards an all Western Australian Grand-Final.

West Coast Eagles are expected to fend off the North Melbourne Kangaroos tomorrow, though the Hawks are again peaking in finals time.

It would be a brave call to bet against the Hawks heading to their fourth final in a row and repeating their Grand Final master class of 2014, especially when considering they have beaten the Dockers in seven of their last eight meetings.

The Hawks have played at Subiaco twice this year against the Eagles, winning one and losing their semi-final.

After being beaten in Perth two weeks ago, Hawthorn went to the lengths of changing the dimensions at Waverly Park this week in preparation for the narrow Subiaco Oval.

"We redesigned our ground at Waverley throughout the week and the boys trained with the different dimensions, so that was beneficial," assistant coach Cameron Bruce said.

Meanwhile fans of the minor premiers might not look so confident, but despite sliding into first place with the worst percentage in the top five, only just edging out the Bulldogs and Crows in sixth and seventh, the Dockers have developed a knack of winning games tough.

However recent history may suggest a Perth derby at the MCG next week is unlikely.

Since the Eagles met the Sydney Swans in the final in 2006 the Swans are the only non-Victorian team to have won a premiership.

Port Adelaide and Fremantle are the only other non-Victorian sides to make the final over that period, while Geelong and the Hawks have notched three premierships each.

Fremantle look like they will be without defender Michael Johnson this evening and coach Ross Lyon has opted not to bring back tagger Ryan Crowley.

For the Hawks Jack Gunston is still injured as they will retain the same 22 who dismantled the Adelaide Crows last weekend.