Round 18 Match PreviewsFriday, August 3, 2018 - 11:25 AM - by Chris Pike

THERE are just the three matches in Round 18 of the WAFL on Saturday afternoon but each of them have plenty at stake for the teams involved highlighted for the battle for second spot between South Fremantle and West Perth.

It is Round 18 of the WAFL to open the final month of the 2018 season and with eight teams still in finals contention every match takes on greater significance.

Subiaco might be guaranteed of the minor premiership for a fourth straight season currently undefeated in 2018 after 14 games and East Fremantle is stuck in bottom place at 2-13 having lost seven in-a-row, the other positions all remain up for grabs.

It will be a nervous wait for the fourth placed Perth and sixth placed Claremont who can do nothing to advance their finals prospects due to a bye on Saturday, but East Perth, Peel Thunder and Swan Districts all try to help their respective causes.

The round begins at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, though, with South Fremantle and West Perth going to battle over second position. 

It's a big day for both clubs with not only second position and the potential hosting of a qualifying final going on the line, but South Fremantle's Ashton Hams and West Perth's Chris Keunen will also be celebrating their respective 200-game milestones.

That crucial clash will bounce down at 1.40pm and will be broadcast live on Channel 7 from 1.30pm.

The other two Round 18 matches take place at 2.15pm with Peel Thunder hosting East Perth at Bendigo Bank Stadium. 

It will be the first of two meetings between the two AFL-partnered clubs in the last month of the season with those to potentially decide which of them plays finals in 2018.

The other game of Round 18 sees Subiaco put its unbeaten record on the line against Swan Districts at Leederville Oval. 

Swans need to win to stay in the finals race but it's going to be a significant challenge considering they lost their first two meetings this season to the Lions by a combined 178 points.

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