WEST Coast coach John Worsfold says he has a squad of up to 32 players capable of holding their own at AFL level as the club looks to build its depth on the verge of the finals.
The Eagles will be without key defender Will Schofield, who has had a plate inserted into his fractured cheekbone, and midfielder Daniel Kerr (back) against Adelaide on Saturday night, but Worsfold said the club had plenty of options at the selection table.
Jack Darling, Sam Butler and Mitch Brown are all pressing to return, and premiership defender Brett Jones, who has not played at AFL level this season, could be handed what may end up being a farewell game.
"We've got we think a really healthy squad of probably 30-32, that we could have in consideration to play any given week at the moment," Worsfold said from Patersons Stadium on Wednesday.
"To be able to say Brett Jones is fit and ready to go with an injury to Schofield this week, it gives us more selection possibilities to look at.
"I'd love to give him a farewell game but we're not in a position to be able to just look at it for that reason. His form was outstanding last week for Claremont, as it has been for a number of weeks.
"Brett is still in contention to play this week and in the finals for us. With any mishaps or drops in form, we've got a senior player there in good form, which is a great position for us to have."
Worsfold said no decision had been made on Jones's future, with the 29-year-old unable to add to his 102 career games this year despite a strong season with Claremont in the WAFL.
West Coast is expected to this week welcome back Darling, who has missed two matches with hip soreness, with Worsfold declaring the 19-year-old "ready to go".
Star ruckman Dean Cox, who suffered an eye injury against the Brisbane Lions in round 23, is travelling "really well", the coach said, and would be anxious to step up his workload after three light weeks on the track.
Kerr is still suffering tightness after injuring his back against Essendon in round 22 and Worsfold said the club could tell he wouldn't be able to train fully this week so he was ruled out of the Crows clash early.
The coach was confident both Kerr and Schofield would be fit to face Collingwood in the first qualifying final.
"He'll get better day by day," Worsfold said of Kerr. "He'll be back out there running flat out, either today or certainly tomorrow.
"We expect that [Schofield] will be available next week.
"Medically we would get confirmation that his cheekbone is as strong as it's going to be to play."
Midfielder Matt Rosa, who suffered a posterior cruciate ligament injury against Richmond in round 20, is also on track to play again this season.
Worsfold said the 24-year-old, who is aligned to WAFL club Peel Thunder, would push to play for a rival WAFL club's reserves team in week one of the state league finals next week.
Nathan Schmook covers West Cost news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_NSchmook
