Jack Darling's seven weeks away from West Coast will feel like an eternity when he lines up alongside some strangers in the AFL clash with North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.
Darling will make his highly-anticipated AFL return on Sunday against the Kangaroos, just weeks after his career looked dead following his vaccination stand-off with the league.
The 29-year-old was banned from attending club headquarters and playing games on January 21 after failing to meet the AFL's vaccination deadline, but he has since satisfied the league's COVID-19 protocols.
Incredibly, 12 West Coast players from last week's squad are out of action under the AFL's health and safety protocols after the club was hit hard by COVID-19.
That number could grow further by the time the ball is bounced on Sunday, with West Coast bracing themselves to make more late changes.
Nic Naitanui, Josh Kennedy, Tom Barrass, Jack Redden, Zac Langdon, Isiah Winder, Harry Edwards, Josh Rotham, Hugh Dixon, Jamaine Jones, Brady Hough and Jake Waterman are the players who have been sent into isolation.
Further compounding West Coast's woes is a foot injury to Andrew Gaff, who has also been ruled out.
It means West Coast have been forced to call upon four of their WAFL top-up players - some who have never even had a training session with the club.
Brayden Ainsworth, who played 13 games for West Coast before being delisted last year, is at least a familiar face among the WAFL top-ups.
The other three are West Perth star Aaron Black, former Docker Stefan Giro and ex-Hawthorn defender Angus Dewar.
The return of Darling looms as vital in the COVID-ravaged squad, and coach Adam Simpson can't wait to unleash the premiership forward.
"He's good to go. Really happy for him that he gets to play," Simpson said.
"Obviously the circumstances are a little bit different with what's going on."
Developing big man Callum Jamieson and raw key forward Jack Williams - the 57th pick from last year's draft - have been named for their AFL debuts, while regulars such as skipper Luke Shuey, Liam Ryan, Tim Kelly, Liam Duggan, and Alex Witherden make welcome returns.
Simpson isn't waving the white flag despite being robbed of so many of his best players.
"It's an opportunity to perform and win in adversity," he said.
"We want to be resilient, and these are the opportunities to display that."
North Melbourne, who suffered a 20-point loss to Hawthorn in round one, have welcomed back Jared Polec, Josh Walker and Kyron Hayden.
Ben McKay was ruled out with concussion, while Tom Powell, Callum Coleman-Jones and Jaidyn Stephenson were dropped.
