PLACE PREVIEW - MAGPIES TO HOST OLD RIVALS

The Western Magpies will have the chance to move into second place on the ladder if they overcome old rivals and fifth placed Palm Beach-Currumbin at Chelmer on Saturday.

With 2nd placed Morningside taking on ladder leaders Labrador, there is a chance a Pies win could push Morningside to third should results follow current ladder positions, however strong focus will be on the task at hand against a quality Palm Beach outfit.

The Magpies regain ruckman Hayden Thick from illness, winger Aaron Maricic from Brisbane Lions duties but lose in form half back Matt Davis with an ankle injury and Sunny Aneet has been omitted from the side for not meeting team expectations.

Maricic will be a straight swap for Aneet, while Thick will give Dom Beer a much needed chop out in the ruck after Beer has carried the load for 3 weeks with support from Alex Dickfos.

Alex Dickfos can now shift back to full-forward in a more permanent role, with some possible ruck work in the forward 50. However, kicking goals will again be his major task and his leading, marking and accuracy in front of goal has been good in recent matches.

Luke Scott has been excellent in recent weeks but lifted even more when Davis was injured early last week. Scott's reading of the play and intercept marking would be close to the best in the League and he should feature prominently in the QAFL Grogan Medal calculations this year. 

Drew Mitchell in midfield has been in rare form with numerous centre clearances capped by crucial goals in most matches and with Davis, Scott and Doug Lawrence will be among the Magpies' William Pierce Medal favourites in 2015.  

Lawrence has lead a resolute defence with Chris Hunt mopping up brilliantly and playing consistent football each week and he is rarely beaten one-on-one.

Luke Mitchell has been another consistent performer in defence and Sean Mewing is back to his rebounding best. With Davis out, Brady Allen will slot into the back flank and Jae Humphrey will move to the wing.

Up forward Val Pope will spend more time deep and Lachlan Woods will go to half forward and Matt Garland will start in the pocket. Young Sam Copland has a big task at CHF for a 16 year old but he has been up to the task in recent matches. 

In midfield Callum Carseldine and Ben Jaenke-Cain have been consistent all year and with Tim McEvoy, have won plenty of the contested football to drive the Pies forward. Young Riley Easton will be given some time in midfield this match and his speed and tackling pressure wins plenty of the ball.

The Magpies will be keen to perform in front of the 2005 Reserves premiership reunion crowd and also grab second place on the ladder. Palm Beach-Currumbin have been long-time rivals of the Magpies and the home team will be want to make it two wins in 2015 against the Lions.

Western Magpies v Palm Beach Currumbin Lions - Chelmer, Saturday August 8 @ 2pm

B: Sean Mewing - Chris Hunt - Luke Mitchell

HB: Brady Allen - Doug Lawrence - Luke Scott

C: Jae Humphrey - Ben Jeanke-Cain - Aaron Maricic

HF: Matt Thompson - Sam Copland - Lachlan Woods (c)

F: Matt Garland - Alex Dickfos - Val Pope

Foll: Dom Beer - Drew Mitchell - Callum Carseldine

Int: Tim McEvoy - Riley Easton - Richard Wenham - Hayden Thick

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