Eagles defender Eric Mackenzie is facing a short stint on the sidelines after suffering a minor hamstring strain during their 32-point loss to Port Adelaide at the weekend.
West Coast's general manager of football Craig Vozzo said the one-on-one specialist would need at least a fortnight to rehabilitate the injury, which forced him from the field late in the contest on Sunday.
“He’s been in really good form, so it was disappointing that he had that slight strain with his hamstring,” Vozzo said.
“It’s at that level where we are expecting it to be a two-to-three week recovery.”
Vozzo was hopeful that reigning Ross Glendinning medallist Josh Kennedy would be available for the 46th instalment of the Carlton Draught Derby.
The football department boss said Kennedy trained well today and should take the field against the Dockers.
“We’re not getting too excited, because we need to get through Thursday, but we’re expecting that’ll be the case and he’ll finally be able to play for us on the weekend. So, fingers crossed,” he said.
First-year Eagles Jake Waterman and Tarir Bayok are also expected to suit up for the first time in a while this weekend, albeit at East Perth.
Waterman has finally overcome a stress-related foot ailment and will play his first WAFL game for the year, while Bayok returns following a lengthy hamstring rehabilitation program.
“Both first-year players in Jake Waterman and Tarir Bayok, they have both recovered quite well to this point,” Vozzo said.
“Jake has obviously been a long term injury and his build up, or his mini pre-season, is almost complete. In fact, all he has to do is get through this week and he plays for East Perth, so that’s exciting.
“Tarir is ready to play some minutes if he gets through the balance of the week with training.”
Two more Eagles upstarts, Willie Rioli and Simon Tunbridge, are also nearing a return via the WAFL.
Vozzo said the pair, who are working their way back from respective hamstring and knee injuries, should line up in black and blue next Saturday.
“Willie, if you looked at him train, you’d pick him tomorrow,” Vozzo said.
“He’s passed all the markers. We’ve just done some more conditioning with him and, given the previous hamstring strain, our guys would prefer to give him one more week in the build-up.
“Tunners is tracking well. We expect, if he gets through some testing at the weekend and then has a full week of training, then he’ll play next week.”
However, the news is less favourable for the club's 2016 AFL Draft first pick Daniel Venables, who has suffered a minor setback in his recovery from turf toe.
“With Dan, we haven’t quite got to where we hoped we’d be with his running right at this point,” Vozzo revealed.
“It’s probably going to be a slower process than anticipated, a build into a two or three-week program and then hopefully available for selection from there.”
Vozzo said 2006 premiership player Sam Butler was on the improve after suffering a hamstring injury during the club’s Round 15 triumph over the Western Bulldogs.
He said the 31-year-old backman would be available for selection in two weeks.
