Payne, Blee likely set for key roles in show of Royals' depthSaturday, September 3, 2016 - 12:37 PM - by Chris Pike

NATHAN Blee and Steven Payne have been two of East Perth's best and most consistent performers in recent years and now with the Royals to be missing a host of West Coast players they will be again called upon in Sunday's elimination final against Peel Thunder.

With West Coast to take on the Western Bulldogs in an AFL elimination final on Thursday night at Domain Stadium, any of the Eagles players qualified for finals with East Perth likely won't play.

That looks set to include the likes of Mitch Brown, Jackson Nelson and Jack Redden who all played in last Saturday's win over East Fremantle that qualified the Royals for a fifth straight finals appearance.

But East Perth's reserves finished on top of the ladder to earn a break in the first week of the finals and that team that played against the Sharks was full of quality players including Blee, Payne, Corey Adamson and Callum Hart who now appear to be the automatic inclusions for Sunday.

Payne and Blee are two players who in particular have been unlucky to find themselves in the reserves.

Payne has now played six games back from injury and had 75 possessions the past two weeks while Blee has been one of the league's best defenders before and after going to Port Adelaide.

East Perth coach Jaymie Graham is confident that whichever 22 he puts out on the park against Peel in Mandurah in his first final in charge will put in a strong showing.

"Given the game for West Coast is on Thursday it might mean we lose a couple from last week's game," Graham said.

"But we'll still have a good number of listed players available and from an East Perth point of view our reserves finished on top and we've got some quality players who have played league football this year. Whoever gets an opportunity this weekend will take their chances."

Following a slow start to the season winning just four of the first 11 games but they went on a five-game winning run. But the Royals then lost three straight to go into last Saturday's clash with East Fremantle with only a win good enough for them to play finals.

East Perth dominated from the outset to beat the Sharks by 48 points and now Graham is looking forward to the challenge of taking on a Fremantle-strengthened Peel this Sunday in Mandurah.

"It was great obviously to secure that spot in the finals and it was a really good day for East Perth given the fact we've got all three grades in. We're pleased with that and looking forward to taking part on Sunday," he said.

"It's going to be a great challenge for our boys but we are looking forward to it. Any time you get the opportunity to play finals footy is always good. They have some good players across the whole board but their midfield is very strong.

"Last time we met they really got on top for a good period of the game through the midfield and we do need McGinnity and Redden and even Will Maginness and some other guys to stand up through the midfield. It's going to be a great challenge for them."

Graham has no problem taking on Peel in Mandurah with the Royals having beaten the Thunder there in a first semi-final last year and he feels it's a ground that suits the East Perth defensive style of play, and back-line in general.

"We quite enjoy playing in Mandurah. We have a strong focus on our team defence and it is a smaller group whereas at Leederville it's very wide and it's hard to defend it as well. We enjoy playing down there and it may help a little bit with our defensive structures, which is a good thing," Graham said.

"Our defence has been really solid and we've had Mackenzie and Brown, but young Tom Gorter has been in very good form and Mitch Fraser is playing good footy as well.

"We've been happy with that and it's going to be a bit more of a challenge this week with Browny out but we've got some guys who have played some good league footy this year in Mitch Lague and Nathan Blee. Given our ressies have finished on top we've got a little bit of depth to call upon.