WEST Coast's recent injury woes have continued, with ruckman Callum Sinclair set to miss at least a month of football with a fractured thumb.
Sinclair injured his left thumb during the Eagles' 31-point win over Carlton in their NAB Challenge clash in Mandurah on Friday night.
Scans revealed a fracture that will take at least a month to heal. He will not be hindered as far as maintaining fitness is concerned.
Sinclair has already suffered a compound dislocation of his finger this pre-season.
It is yet another injury blow for the Eagles after they lost best and fairest defender Eric Mackenzie in the same match with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
The ruck stocks at West Coast appeared healthy if Sinclair, Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett all remained fit.
But Naitanui has been kept out of the first two pre-season matches due to back tightness and is touch and go to play in the Eagles' next NAB Challenge clash against Port Adelaide on Sunday.
Sinclair was vying with Lycett for a spot as the No.2 ruckman and looked in contention following two strong performances.
Lycett will now shoulder the load in the pre-season given Sinclair's injury and the doubts over Naitanui.
The Eagles have trained Fraser McInnes, a 197cm forward/ruckman, to fill a ruck post if necessary.
McInnes was recruited with pick No.28 in the 2011 NAB AFL Draft but has yet to play an AFL game. He has played six pre-season matches across four seasons.
Promising swingman Jeremy McGovern can also play in the ruck but his services will be needed in both defence and attack given the season-ending injury to Mackenzie and the likely unavailability of forward Jack Darling in the early part of the season.
