WEST Coast ruckman Scott Lycett insists there is room for him and Nathan Vardy in the same line-up, and wants to grab the rest of the season "with both hands" after finally returning from injury.
Lycett pulled up "pretty sore" from his comeback game against Port Adelaide, but was thrilled to make his AFL return from pre-season shoulder surgery.
While the 203cm big man admitted Power star Paddy Ryder took the honours in Sunday's ruck battle, Lycett believed he could form a damaging partnership with Vardy for the rest of the campaign.
"Last year Nic (Naitanui) and I both played the same position that Vards and I are doing now, so there's definitely room for both of us," Lycett said.
"It's just a matter of building that chemistry and working out how each other plays.
"It was only our first game together.
"For us to go out there and dominate straight away (against) a quality ruckman in Ryder would be silly to think.
"We'll build on it and we'll be better for it."
After undergoing a PCL reconstruction at the end of last season, Lycett was on the verge of his comeback and eyeing the No.1 ruck role in Naitanui's absence when he dislocated his shoulder playing in a WAFL practice match.
"It was really frustrating. I really wanted to … show the competition that I was a genuine No.1 ruck," he said.
"I've been labelled a bit of an injury-prone player at the moment, but I've had two surgeries in almost seven years – which is pretty unheard of for most footy players.
"I just want to really grab the season with both hands.
"Obviously I wasn't quite up to it yesterday.
"I can still take my game to another level I know that."
The Eagles could have some selection headaches with their tall timber ahead of Sunday's crunch Western Derby if spearhead Josh Kennedy is ready to return from a calf injury and veteran Drew Petrie escapes a ban for a high bump on Matt White.
West Coast coach Adam Simpson has said he wanted to keep Lycett in the side once he returns, and the 50-gamer is preparing for an intriguing battle against Freo youngster Sean Darcy.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit happy when (Aaron Sandilands) went down because he's obviously a great ruckman and very hard to play on," Lycett said.
"It's a very big game coming up this week.
"I've seen (Darcy) a little bit, watched him over the past couple of weeks and he's only a young kid but he's doing pretty well."
The Eagles have slipped to ninth on the ladder and have lost three of their past four games at their one-time fortress, while the Dockers could keep their slim finals chances alive with victory in the last Western Derby at Domain Stadium.
