West Coast confirmed its standing as one of the AFL premiership fancies of 2005 with an impressive 51-point Wizard Cup quarter-final win over Collingwood in extreme weather conditions at Marrara Oval on Saturday night.

The Eagles ran the Magpies off the park in a first half played in hot, windy and humid conditions and then withstood a Collingwood fightback in the third-quarter rain to eventually win 1.14.13 (106) to 1.7.4 (55).

West Coast led all night and blew out the margin through five goals to three in the final term in a good tune-up before next week's semi at Subiaco.

The Eagles will now play the Kangaroos in one of next week's pre-season semi-finals, and how they respond after Saturday's game - played in sapping humidity - will be another good test for John Worsfold's men.

The Eagles seized the advantage through a blistering first half from livewire forward Ashley Sampi, who kicked the opening goal of the first two quarters and then thumped a nine-pointer on the bounce from 70 metres in the second term.

Sampi was one of a handful of Eagles whose pace and slick ball movement was too much for the Magpies early and, despite a good third-quarter effort from Collingwood when it held its own in general play, three early goals in the final term gave West Coast a comfortable win.

In more encouraging news for Worsfold, the good showing came despite a moderate game from Brownlow Medallist Chris Judd, who was well tagged by Pie Rhyce Shaw, while ruckman Michael Gardiner made a good return after missing most of last year with a knee injury.

The Darwin crowd was treated to several clever goals from West Coast players as newcomer Mitch Morton, Rowan Jones and big forward Quinten Lynch all snapped from the pocket throughout the night.

Acting Collingwood captain Anthony Rocca kicked three goals, but his side struggled in the slippery conditions minus captain Nathan Buckley and dangerous forward Chris Tarrant, both nursing injuries.

In the only injury scare of the night, young Collingwood tall Cameron Cloke limped off with what looked a knee injury when he landed awkwardly in the final term.

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