West Coast will welcome back star pair Nic Naitanui and Willie Rioli as they take on Gold Coast on Sunday, while young defender Rhett Bazzo is among four players ruled out for the Eagles.
Bazzo (ankle), Josh Rotham (ankle) and Alex Witherden (hamstring) will miss the trip to Metricon Stadium through injury, while veteran spearhead Josh Kennedy has been managed ahead of what is expected to be the final game of his decorated career at Optus Stadium in round 21.
Meanwhile, dual All-Australian Elliot Yeo will face at least another two weeks on the sidelines following another injury setback.
Naitanui, who has been sidelined since round 17 with knee soreness, is back after getting through training on Thursday, while Rioli resumes from a fortnight of personal leave following the death of his father, Willie Rioli Snr.
Jack Petruccelle has been named on an extended interchange bench alongside Connor West, Jai Culley and Xavier O’Neill, as well as new inclusions Zac Langdon, Samo Petrevski-Seton, Greg Clark and Hugh Dixon.
Wingman Andrew Gaff will play his 250th, while Tim Kelly is also celebrating his milestone 100th game and West Coast coach Adam Simpson will be at the helm of his 200th AFL match.
Simpson revealed Yeo injured his calf during a “sign-off” session for his recent hamstring injury.
“He’ll be a couple more weeks, which is really disappointing for everyone because he’s an important player,” Simpson said, admitting the club is “not far” off ruling the 28-year-old out for the season.
“It’s not a significant injury, it’s just a small setback,” Simpson said.
“It’s a different type of injury, different soft tissue injury. He had a hamstring when he went out (of the side). It’s disappointing.
“He’s doing everything he can and then just at the last hurdle, he’s just not getting that clean two or three weeks where once you get over that hump, you’re sort of OK.
“The bottom half of his body has, unfortunately, let him down.”
Meanwhile, the Suns’ top 2021 draft pick, Mac Andrew will make his AFL debut.
The number five selection has been named at centre half-back to replace Charlie Ballard, who sustained a season-ending knee injury against Brisbane.
Jack Bowes, Darcy Macpherson, Hewago Oea and Malcolm Rosas Jnr have been named on the extended bench for Gold Coast.
EAGLES LINE-UP
B: S Hurn T Barrass L DugganHB: L Foley H Edwards J JonesC: B Hough T Kelly A GaffHF: J Cripps J Waterman W RioliF: B Williams J Darling L RyanR: N Naitanui J Redden L Shuey
IC (from): Z Langdon S Petrevski-Seton J Petruccelle X O’Neill C West G Clark J Culley H Dixon
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