THE WAFL finals series kicks off on Sunday with a second semi-final battle that Claremont and Swan Districts have been preparing almost half a season for and a cut-throat first semi-final battle between East Fremantle and East Perth that should be a cracker.
Claremont and Swan Districts separated themselves from the pack early in the 2010 campaign and were locked in to finish top-two fairly early on, and now play off for a grand final spot at Claremont Oval on Sunday.
East Fremantle returns to finals action for the first time in eight years and East Perth the first time in three when they meet to book a preliminary final berth at East Fremantle Oval also on Sunday.
FIRST SEMI-FINAL: EAST FREMANTLE v EAST PERTH - EAST FREMANTLE OVAL, 2.15pm SUNDAY
Finals comes to East Fremantle Oval for the first time on Sunday with the rested Sharks hosting a rampaging East Perth as both sides look to take advantage of being back in finals action.
East Fremantle locked in its first finals appearance since 2002 with a 113-point win 
over Peel Thunder back in Round 22 before the bye last week. That gave the Sharks four straight wins to enter the finals rested and in form.
Before that, it had been up and down season but one that without question showed great improvement with a good blend of senior players and future stars coming through and leading the way.
The Sharks bounced back well from four losses between Rounds 14-17 coming into the bye in Round 18, but did so well and as a result secured a home final.
East Perth could very well be the most in-form team of the competition coming into the finals series with six straight wins against East Fremantle, Perth, Peel, West Perth, Subiaco and last week Claremont.
That win over the Tigers last week meant the Royals were just the second team all season to beat the minor premiers and while it was by 16 points in the end, it could have been by so much more if the Royals kicked straighter than 12.23.
It has been a stirring turnaround for East Perth to make finals. With plenty of drama surrounding the season with recruits David Wirrpanda, Andrew Lovett and Jason Roe not coming off, injury and suspension to Zach Beeck, suspension to Pat Travers (pictured), the Dampier trip debacle and Dean Cadwallader drug scandal, making the effort to fight back and make finals all the more impressive.
East Perth lost its first three games before wins over Peel and Perth, but then suffered four consecutive losses again to fall to a 2-7 record with all hopes of finals looking over.
However, since then the Royals have only lost to Claremont and Swan Districts in Round 14-15 and won nine of the last 11 games, including the last six, to storm into fourth spot and a finals appearance that they enter with plenty of confidence.
Last time the two teams met East Perth won by 53 points at Medibank Stadium, but East Fremantle was missing a host of key players and Jamie McNamara, Steven Dodd and Koby Stevens came off early injured.
From that side, East Fremantle will have Rhys Palmer, Jamie Cripps, Scott Horsburgh, Luke Foster, Ryley Dunn, Rob Young, Selby Lee-Steere (pictured) and Jack Perham.
From the team that did beat Peel a fortnight ago, Anthony Kyanga and Adrian Ricciardello drop back to the reserves who take on Claremont at Claremont Oval, with Foster, Lee-Steere, Steven Dodd and Tim Houlihan the likely inclusions.
East Perth has four senior players pushing to break into a side that has been in red hot form giving coach Tony Micale some tough calls to make.
Pat Travers' six-week suspension is up and he is available with Adam Pickering, Tim Noakes and Daniel Macaulay pushing for a call-up. Midfielder Ben Noakes goes out after re-injuring his arm in last week's win over Claremont.
SECOND SEMI-FINAL: CLAREMONT v SWAN DISTRICTS - CLAREMONT 
OVAL, 2.15pm SUNDAY
Claremont and Swan Districts have met twice over the last six rounds of the season, but now it's business time with a grand final spot on the line at Claremont Oval on Sunday.
Claremont and Swan Districts have dominated this WAFL season with the Tigers only dropping two games and Swans' four with the two also playing out a thrilling draw at Steel Blue Oval in Round 18.
The other meetings saw impressive wins for either side with the black-and-whites drawing first blood at home back in Round 7 and then the Tigers recording a massive 73-point win at Claremont Oval in Round 21.
The home ground advantage could be crucial if that meeting three weeks ago has anything to go by and Claremont deserves that opportunity given its outstanding season, but having played at Tigerland so recently might also help Swans' on their return.
Claremont's rise in 2010 has been remarkable after finishing eighth in both the last two seasons. There's no question the outstanding coaching of Simon McPhee and his staff and the determination of an exciting young playing group has been the rise.
There haven't been massive changes with only Jess Laurie, Andrew Browne, and Andrew Foster (pictured) coming into the group from the outside. That means the culture and attitude inside the ground has improved in an outstanding way, and the Tigers' style of football has been brilliant.
Even without leading goal kicker Chad Jones, who kicked 85 goals before his season ended with a hamstring injury, if the Tigers play to their potential and at 100 per cent capacity they will be incredibly tough to stop for the premiership.
They still have plenty of goal scoring options, though, with Ian Richardson booting 57 for the season, Jarrod Ninyette 41, Foster 36 and David Crawford 20.
Swan Districts could well be the team with the most natural talent and if it all clicks the black-and-whites are certainly exciting.
Andrew Krakouer has been brilliant all season long and should win the Sandover Medal and if midfielders Josh Roberts, Tom Roach (pictured), Clayton Hinkley, Brett Robinson, Brett Wolfenden and running defenders Wayde Twomey, Travis Casserly, Clancee Pearce and Graham Jetta get going, their dangerous forward-line could receive chances to tear the game apart.
Tim Geappen has kicked 65 goals, Ash Hansen 41 in just eight games and Krakouer has added 34, Justin Simpson 30 and Tony Notte 23 so Swans' have plenty of forward options as well.
Ben Colreavy (hamstring) and Ryan Davis (ankle) remain out of the Swans' side, but will likely be available for selection either next week for the preliminary final or for the grand final meaning that spots are still up for grabs within the team.
Claremont will lose Alex Silvagni after he was picked by Fremantle for tomorrow's clash with Hawthorn at Subiaco Oval, but have Foster, Nic Chidgzey, Dylan Ross, Tom Willett and Jake Murphy all pushing for a spot.
Swan Districts ruckman Llane Spaanderman returns from suspension, Roach after missing last week and Fremantle's Hinkley is also back meaning three unlucky players will lose their spot.
