Round 23 Preview - East Perth v SubiacoSaturday, August 26, 2017 - 1:56 AM

THE rivalry between the Leederville Oval co-tenants has been a fascinating one since 2004 even if dominated largely by Subiaco but East Perth's season goes on the line on Saturday with the Royals needing to end the Lions' winning to run to play finals themselves.

With Subiaco entering Saturday's clash at Leederville Oval on an 18-game winning streak and East Perth needing to end it at 18 in likely the only chance for the Royals to still play finals in 2017 then the stage is set for quite the finish to the home and away season between the two clubs.

Given Subiaco has won 18 straight matches since losing to South Fremantle in Round 1, the Lions have the minor premiership wrapped up for a third straight season as they chase a fourth successive grand final appearance and a third premiership in four years.

Subiaco is guaranteed of top spot and then a break next week in the opening weekend of the finals ahead of hosting the second semi-final against the winner of the qualifying final between South Fremantle and Peel Thunder next Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

However, with the Lions to have that break next week they will be throwing everything into having a strong hit out this Saturday to remain in peak form entering the finals.

But East Perth simply has to win. It's unlikely the Royals will be able to play finals unless they find a way to beat Subiaco for the first time since Round 3, 2015.

An East Perth loss would likely see the winner of the Claremont clash with West Perth at Claremont Oval take the Royals' place in the top five. That is guaranteed to happen if the Falcons win and is a good chance of happening in the case of a Tigers win depending on percentage.

But if the Royals do beat the Lions, they are guaranteed of playing finals and could even earn a home elimination final next Sunday if Swan Districts is unable to beat East Fremantle on Saturday. 

While the rivalry has built since the two clubs officially became co-tenants at Leederville Oval in 2004, it has been one dominated largely by Subiaco.

The Lions won the first eight meetings of the official co-tenants by an average of 42.9 points up until a breakthrough by East Perth in stunning fashion to storm home and win by three points in Round 9, 2007.

But Subiaco still went on to win the next three, five of the next seven and to overall win 11 of the first 12 and 18 of the opening 25 clashes between the co-tenants until East Perth finally got on a rolling stringing together four of six wins.

However, once again the Lions have taken control of the battles winning the previous seven matches by 43.1 points including by 91 points on Good Friday this year and then by 32 points back in Round 13.

East Perth comes into the contest having suffered a shock five-point loss to Perth at Lathlain Park last week that put its finals spot in jeopardy. The Royals had been in good form prior to that beating Swan Districts, West Perth and Claremont to be in a strong position.

From the team that lost to the Demons last week, Josh Hill will return for East Perth having lost his place for West Coast who will be playing Adelaide at Domain Stadium on Sunday.

Two of West Coast's emergencies Jackson Nelson, Will Schofield and Jake Waterman should still line-up for the Royals on Saturday against the Lions.

Fellow Eagles-listed pair Malcolm Karpany and Tom Cole are also back for the Royals while Scott Jones, Tom Hodgson, Ben Miller and Nathan Eaton are in the mix at the selection table for the final round contest.

Meanwhile, Subiaco will remain without captain Kyal Horsley, midfielder Justin Joyce and versatile big man Clancy Wheeler for the last game of the home and away season with the they will be right to go for that second semi-final against either South Fremantle or Peel.

But the season is over for Chris Phelan and Joel Latham who did have hopes of returning for Subiaco.

Chris Bryan, Liam Baker and Daniel Perkins are three more Subiaco desperate to get an opportunity back in the league side to try and cement a spot for finals while Hayden Kennedy and Kyle Halligan have made successful returns in recent weeks.

EAST PERTH (9-10, 5th) v SUBIACO (19-1, 1st) – LEEDERVILLE OVAL, SATURDAY 2.15PM
Selected teams, live stats 
Broadcast – 91.3 SportFM, KIX Digital