Eagles set for final at Optus Stadium if they finish fifth or sixth

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West Coast are set to be granted a home elimination final at Optus Stadium if they finish fifth or sixth on the ladder as the AFL prepares for a bumper final round of matches that will determine the top eight.

The AFL and the WA government are expected to finalise arrangements early this week to enable that to occur. The details around quarantine requirements are being finalised. The Eagles will fly back to Western Australia on Friday morning after playing North Melbourne at Metricon Stadium with West Coast a chance to finish third, fourth or fifth at the end of the premiership season.

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Fly away home: The Eagles are set for a home final if they finish fifth or sixth.Credit: Getty Images

Port Adelaide and the Brisbane Lions will finish in the top two meaning there will be a qualifying final at Adelaide Oval and the Gabba in week one of the finals, which will kick off on either Wednesday September 30 or Thursday October 1 though on the weekend the AFL were leaning towards a Thursday start.

Collingwood need to beat Gold Coast on Monday night to cement their spot in the top eight while the Eagles only need to defeat North Melbourne on Thursday night to guarantee they finish as high as fifth and earn a home final in week one.

If they defeat the Kangaroos as expected they will finish in the top four and travel to either Adelaide or Queensland in week one of the finals for a qualifying final if Richmond or Geelong stumble in their final-round matches against Adelaide and Sydney respectively.

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A trip to Perth for week one of the finals would be daunting challenge for the bunch of teams who could finish anywhere between sixth and 10th depending on results.

If the Magpies beat the Suns they will finish the penultimate round in sixth spot but need to play Port Adelaide at the Gabba in round 18.

St Kilda need to defeat the Giants to qualify for the finals for the first time since 2011 while the Western Bulldogs will book a finals spot if they defeat the in-form Fremantle in Cairns next Sunday.

Melbourne need to defeat Essendon on Saturday and hope the Bulldogs lose to the Dockers to qualify although they would be likely to head to Perth to play the Eagles unless other results fell their way.

The Giants need a miracle to make the finals. They have to defeat St Kilda and hope Collingwood lose to both the Suns and Port Adelaide and Melbourne lose to the Bombers.