Chief executive Brian Cook said the club was banking on at least 20,000 people turning up.

He said with membership down by between 7 and 8 per cent it was imperative that budgeted home match crowds were met.

``We've budgeted for 20,000 people but we'd love to get 25,000 to peg back our (membership) loss which is over $300,000,'' he said.

The former West Coast chief executive said the match held special significance given that it was the Eagles that twice denied Geelong a premiership, in 1992 and 1994.

``This is a crunch game for us against an old foe who's beaten us twice in premiership games, in Grand Finals,'' he said.

He attributed the membership drop off to the club's poor on-field performance late last year and in the early rounds of 2002.

``We're saying, look you left mainly because of our on-field performance, but we've started to perform well and we'd love you all back so get down to the game this week,'' he said.

``If we win this week we're eight and six (win/loss ratio) and looking positive for the finals.

``A victory would be sweet for us and if we had 25,000 people all supporting Geelong in a cauldron it could only do one thing and that's help.''