After a second-string Power side lost to Melbourne in Renmark at the weekend coach Ken Hinkley said he would "play our best side that we could possibly get on the park" next Sunday in Alice Springs.
Although moving well, defender Lewis Stevenson said he wouldn't bank on round one selection until his name was written on the team sheet ahead of the club's first match against Melbourne.
"I had a pretty solid pre-season, I was in rehab up until about Christmas but really got in the swing of things in the last couple of months," Stevenson said.
"[I] haven't got a spot nailed down…I sort of look at it that if I play each week it's a good sign but obviously there's no guarantees …it depends on match-ups and who's fresh.
"We did play quite a few inexperienced guys this weekend but I'd probably expect a few more senior guys to come back in (against West Coast), especially with the short six-day turnaround.
Stevenson crossed from the Eagles to the Power during last October's Gillette Trade Period and was one of his side's best in its narrow two-point loss on Sunday, collecting 20 disposals in defence.
"We're pretty disappointed because we always go out to win…but obviously we made some mistakes and didn't play our best footy," he said.
"We turned it around a bit in the second half…[we were] pretty flat after the game, but there were some positives to come out of it."
One such shining light was the performance of Stevenson's former WAFL teammate Kane Mitchell.
Recruited to the Power as a rookie Mitchell had the ball on a string in the opening half, collecting 12 first-term possessions to finish with 24 for the game.
While his kicking let him down at times, the 23-year-old's attack on the ball and ability to find plenty of it has him well positioned to fill the vacancy that opened when Nick Salter was put on the long term injury list last month.
"You always know what you're going to get with Kane, he'll run 'till the day he's gone," Stevenson said.
"Obviously playing a lot of my junior footy with him … and winning two premierships with him at Claremont, I know him pretty well and it's good having him here as another mate in a place where you don't know too many people.
"His voice is fantastic, especially for a less experienced guy, and he's had a big impact so far."
Lewis Stevenson is a defender in NAB AFL Fantasy. He didn't play a game in 2012. Register your team at our AFL Fantasy Hub.
Harry Thring is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry.
