WEST Coast ruckman Scott Lycett is still facing an anxious wait before finding out if his season is over, but the Eagles are set to be boosted by Elliot Yeo's return in Sunday's pivotal away clash against Collingwood.

Meanwhile, forgotten rookie Simon Tunbridge could play his first game for the season at East Perth this weekend after undergoing a hybrid LARS knee reconstruction in December. 

Lycett is battling tendon damage in the left shoulder he dislocated and underwent surgery on in March.

The full injury list: round 18

The 203cm big man pulled up sore after his comeback AFL game against Port Adelaide in round 17 and was withdrawn from the Eagles' squad for last round's Western Derby.

His withdrawal gave Drew Petrie a reprieve after he looked set to be dropped, and the veteran recruit could now be needed to partner Nathan Vardy in the ruck for the rest of the season if Lycett's campaign is finished.

"He's got a problem with a tendon in the shoulder that we're obtaining a surgeon's opinion on," football manager Craig Vozzo told westcoasteagles.com.au.

"We'll rely on our doctors to help us make a call, we're hopeful he's still got some footy in him this year, but we're just not sure of a return date just yet."

The outlook is promising for Yeo, who failed to get up for Sunday's scrappy derby triumph due to soreness at the back of his knee. 

Yeo trained on Tuesday, alongside Lycett, and just needs to get through Thursday's main session to take his place against the Pies.

West Coast desperately needs the big-bodied utility to return against a deep Magpies midfield after being smashed 40-28 in clearances and 57-46 in inside 50s by Fremantle.

Tunbridge underwent revolutionary knee surgery in December in a bid to save his injury-plagued career and the 24-year-old rookie is set to play for the Royals' reserves on Saturday.

Electric goalsneak Willie Rioli is also expected to make his return from his second hamstring setback this season.

Key defender Eric Mackenzie and veteran backman Sam Butler could both be available next round after hamstring strains.

But the news isn't as good for top draftee Daniel Venables, who is now at least three weeks away from resuming from turf toe.

"He's built up to the point where he's back on-ground doing running," Vozzo said.

"But we've lost a lot of fitness through that period where he wasn't able to do too much."