Cats midfielder Scott Selwood is primed for his first match against his former club when he lines up in Thursday night's clash with West Coast at Domain Stadium.

“So excited to be taking on a team that’s really challenging to play against on their home deck,” Selwood said during a press conference at Simonds Stadium on Saturday.

“Knowing the club inside and out, they’re driven no matter what and trying to win each week, so expecting their very best and expecting it to be a really tough, hard contest and we’re not going to take them lightly at all.”

Given the Eagles have a star-studded midfield, Selwood might find himself playing a defensive role on one of his former teammates.

“If that’s what the coaches want to do, absolutely I’d love the task of doing something like that,” he said.

“I’ve played with them a lot so I feel like I understand them well, but I don’t take them lightly just because I know them well. 

"I know they’re really strong competitors, they’re ferocious in their attack so it’s going to be really interesting which way we go — whether we tag or not tag.”

Selwood is prepared for the possibility of a hostile reception from the Domain Stadium crowd.