West Coast midfielder Tyson Stenglein believes the Eagles are good enough to make this year's top eight but admits the next three AFL games will be crucial in deciding the club's fate.

The Eagles, magnificent in their 50-point triumph over Port Adelaide on Sunday, face flag fancies St Kilda (Etihad Stadium), Western Bulldogs (Subiaco Oval) and Hawthorn (Aurora Stadium) in the next three weeks.

West Coast were tipped by many to finish in the bottom four this season after managing a disastrous 4-18 win-loss record last year.

But after following up their promising performance against Brisbane with a sparkling display against the Power, Stenglein said there was a strong belief among the group that they were good enough to play finals football this season.

"We were always confident amongst the group that last year was definitely not the standard we set for ourselves," Stenglein said on Monday.

"We've been working hard over the pre-season to put in some good structures and get our game plan back up to where we want it and yesterday that came through.

"We've got a couple of big tests coming up in the next few weeks, all preliminary finalists from last year.

"This week is just about getting ourselves freshened up from yesterday's game and just going in and having a red hot crack against St Kilda, playing like we did yesterday.

"From what St Kilda have shown they definitely look like they could be (top-four material again).

"They've had a good playing list for a number of years now so it looks like they'll be around the mark again.

"I watched their game on Friday night (when they beat Adelaide) and they were very good.

"I heard some of the comments from (Crows coach) Neil Craig saying that was one of the best displays of pressure football he's seen in a home and away game.

"As a group we'll take on that challenge and it will be a really good test for us."

Stenglein, who will notch game 200 when he runs out against the Saints on Saturday, admitted the tagging role he has made his own during his time at West Coast was quickly fading from the game as the use of the zone increased.

"Definitely week in, week out I don't think that role will be there," Stenglein said.

"Rather than that full-on lock down negating role ... it's more of a team defensive role.

"Occasionally those games will come up where they happen but the majority of the time it will eat its way out of the game."

The 28-year-old, who made the move west at the end of 2004 after 106 games with the Crows, said he was proud to reach the 200-game milestone.

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