Inaugural West Coast captain Ross Glendinning has a thick skin and won't be fazed if he's booed by Fremantle supporters after the AFL western derby, Eagles coach Adam Simpson says.
Simpson's comments came as did his best to hose down the bitter medal saga that played out between West Coast and Fremantle this week.
The arch rivals will do battle at Optus Stadium this Sunday, with bragging rights on the line.
The Dockers were widely criticised this week when they threatened to scrap the Ross Glendinning medal that's awarded to the derby's best player.
The tradition has run since 2001 but the Dockers wanted the medal renamed so it included a past Fremantle great.
Fremantle will get their way for the round-20 derby, with the name of their inaugural captain, Ben Allan, likely to be added to the medal.
But for now the medal will remain as is and it remains to be seen how Fremantle fans will handle the situation.
Sunday's derby is a Fremantle home game, meaning Glendinning could cop plenty of flak after the match when he presents the medal named in his honour.
Not that Simpson thinks it will bother the WA football legend too much.
"He's got thick skin. He'll be fine, no matter how he gets treated after the game," Simpson said.
"It's a passionate sport with passionate supporters.
"It would be great if we all showed him the respect on game day. But I don't think he's planning for it.
"That's just footy. That's OK. He's OK."
West Coast have won the past five derbies and will start as slight favourites on Sunday.
But Fremantle enter the match in hot form after disposing of the Bulldogs by 54 points last week.
Dockers skipper Nat Fyfe starred in that match with 43 disposals and a goal, while Aaron Sandilands tallied 53 hitouts.
The duo loom as a key to Fremantle's victory hopes.
West Coast boast a formidable ruck duo in the form of Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett.
Dockers coach Ross Lyon predicts the ruck battle between Naitanui and Sandilands will have a significant impact on the outcome of the match.
West Coast were scratchy in last week's 10-point win over Carlton but they did enough to secure a fourth straight victory.
Lewis Jetta (soreness) returns to bolster West Coast's run and drive out of defence, while speedy forward Jack Petruccelle has been named for his debut.
Fremantle made just one change, replacing injured forward Matt Taberner (foot) with veteran defender Michael Johnson.
