MAX Gawn says Melbourne has a “brilliant opportunity” to keep its winning streak alive when it takes on the West Coast Eagles at Domain Stadium on Saturday evening.

Although Melbourne hasn’t defeated West Coast since 2009 – or beaten the Eagles in the west since 2002 – Gawn said the team was at its most prepared to end that record. The Demons are also aiming to notch up four in a row for the first time since rounds 10 to 15, 2006, when they won six in succession.

“West Coast is probably around a similar position [to us] on the ladder,” Gawn told Melbourne TV.  

“They’ve dominated us in past years and they beat us in the practice game earlier on [this year], so it’s a great opportunity for us, coming off a good set of wins and hopefully we can get four in a row.”

The 2016 All-Australian said he was feeling “relatively nervous” about his return to the game, after being sidelined since round four with a hamstring injury.

“I haven’t really come back from an injury during the middle of the year – usually [I’ve been out for] the whole season or [had a] pre-season injury,” he said.

“I’ve done enough training now and my strength work has been pretty good in the gym, so hopefully I can get out there and keep my hamstring together.”

Gawn said he was usually calm on match day, but this “wasn’t a usual situation” and he added that it had somewhat of a first game feel.

“I’m presuming everyone is going to be a lot fitter than me, because I’ve only played about 12 games on the trot and this will be my first one,” he said.

“I’ve done a fair bit of work on the track, so hopefully I just step in there and no one realises I was out.”