The head-to-head battle between star ruckmen Aaron Sandilands and Nic Naitanui will be crucial to the result of Sunday’s Western Derby at Optus Stadium, according to senior coach Ross Lyon.

Sandilands is coming off one of the best performances in his 16-year AFL career with 53 hitouts against the Western Bulldogs, while Naitanui has been at career-best form since his return from an ACL injury. 

“Clearly Sandilands and Naitanui are the premier ruckmen in the competition and everyone’s looking forward to that battle on the weekend,” Lyon said. 

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“I think that’s going to be significant in the outcome and both teams have faith in their prime ruckmen.”

It’s an even bigger task for Sandilands with West Coast set to run with two specialist rucks, utilising Scott Lycett as a backup for Naitanui.

In the absence of injured forward and backup ruckman Matt Taberner, Fremantle could counter with the likes of Alex Pearce and Michael Johnson – if Johnson is included in the final 22 – as support for Sandilands.

“We’ll have to have a look at that,” Lyon said.

“Lycett obviously is really competent as well, so that’s an extra load for Aaron.”

Lyon said Sandilands’ dominance in round five helped set Freo up against the Bulldogs, with the Eagles enjoying similar service from Naitanui.

“Both are wonderful ruckmen and once you’re putting the ball up you know where it’s going,” Lyon said.

“When (Fremantle midfielders) Nat Fyfe, David Mundy and Lachie Neale can get on the move or (West Coast’s) Luke Shuey and Elliot Yeo and those types can get on the move from a clean hit, you get a little bit of momentum going your way.

“It is significant. It still gets undervalued by a lot of people I think.”