The West Coast Eagles medical staff have signalled the green light for five senior players to return this week. Now it is a matter for them to press their case at main training.
The ball is then in the court of the match committee as they weigh up the pros and cons of the changes they need to make ahead of the clash with North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
Skipper Luke Shuey, forward Jack Darling, midfield star Tim Kelly, small forward Liam Ryan and defender Liam Duggan are all ready to resume, so the selection discussion could be lengthy.
In addition, defender Alex Witherden has served a one game suspension from the pre-season game against Fremantle and is clear to play.
Shuey has been meticulously managing a hamstring strain in the post-Christmas training phase, while Darling has recovered from a foot issue, Kelly and Ryan have emerged from AFL health and safety protocols and Duggan has completed a long rehabilitation from a knee injury that ended his 2021 campaign prematurely.
The match committee will ponder bringing all of those players into the team, despite their collective class.
In further good news on the injury front gun midfielder Elliot Yeo is making strong progress from a calf injury while emerging midfielder Luke Edwards is poised to resume.
Connor West will need another week as he recovers from a hamstring strain.
Hard-running forward Jamie Cripps and midfield draftee Greg Clark are running strongly in the rehabilitation group.
Injury list
Oscar Allen          foot                    4-5 weeks
Campbell Chesser          ankle                  Inactive
Greg Clark                       shoulder            5-6 weeks
Tom Cole                         ankle                  Inactive
Jamie Cripps                   pectoral             4-5 weeks
Jack Darling                     foot                    available
Liam Duggan                   knee                   available
Luke Edwards               groin                  available
Tom Joyce                       ankle                  3-4 weeks
Dom Sheed                     ankle                  8 weeks
Luke Shuey                      hamstring         available
Connor West                   hamstring         1 week
Elliot Yeo                         calf                     2-3 weeks
