Round 7 match previewsThursday, May 17, 2018 - 3:25 PM - by Chris Pike

THE WAFL returns to action this Saturday for Round 7 of the 2018 season with the competition on a high from the KIA State Team's victory last week and there are four tantalising match ups to look forward to.

The season took a break last weekend for the KIA WAFL State Team to take on the SANFL at Adelaide Oval in the 2018 State Game.

The end result was a 26-point victory for the West Australian team that made it a first win in Adelaide against South Australia in 24 years while making it six consecutive State match wins in the process.

Now with the competition on a high coming off that performance, the season recommences this Saturday and there's no better way to do that than with the first Grand Final rematch of 2018.

The premiers of the past two seasons, Peel Thunder, hosts the team it beat in both those Grand Finals, Subiaco, at Bendigo Bank Stadium. It's the first time the two teams have done battle in 2018 and it's only fitting it will be broadcast live on 7mate. 

Peel is looking to win consecutive games for the first time this season while Subiaco is looking for a sixth straight win to open 2018.

Leederville Oval also plays host to another battle between two in-form teams with East Perth taking on South Fremantle. Both the Royals and Bulldogs are on four-game winning streaks since losing to Subiaco making it a game to look out for as they battle over second position behind the Lions.

West Perth is also back home to Joondalup Arena for the first time since Round 3 on Saturday with the Falcons hosting the struggling East Fremantle. 

West Perth is coming off a loss to Subiaco, but it was the most competitive performance against the Lions so far this season while the Sharks will be desperate that the break for the State game break allowed them to find a way to be more competitive.

The last game of the round then sees two teams desperate for a win and even though it's early in the season, for the loser to already slip to 1-5 with only 18 games to play it would be a tough road back to make finals.

That makes the stakes high at Claremont Oval with Claremont and Perth locking horns with both teams entering on 1-4 records and only 2.49 per cent separating them.

The fifth placed Swan Districts has the bye.

Check out the Round 7 team line-ups in the video below.

Click the graphics below for specific game previews.