West Coast skipper Luke Shuey is set to make his AFL return as a forward with coach Adam Simpson forced to juggle the magnets no thanks to the club's ever-increasing injury toll.
Shuey has missed the last two games because of a hamstring injury and he will be on limited minutes in Sunday's clash with GWS at Giants Stadium.
West Coast enter the match without 11 of their best 22 players, including Nic Naitanui, Dom Sheed, Elliot Yeo, Oscar Allen, Liam Ryan, Shannon Hurn, Josh Kennedy and Willie Rioli.
The forward line in particular has been heavily hit with Kennedy, Allen, Zac Langdon, Rioli and Ryan all unavailable.
It means Simpson will need to get creative and shifting Shuey up forward is looming as one of the pieces of the puzzle.
"The dynamic of our team is interesting this week because we've got a certain amount of players we can pick, so it doesn't exactly get everyone in the spots they normally play," Simpson said.
"So we're going to have to have some flexibility in our side and 'Boots' (Shuey) will be part of that, whether it's back or forward
"First game back he's got managed minutes, but he's ready to go, he's fit.
"We'll probably have an extra mid or two in the side, maybe an extra two backs as well, so we've got to work through how it fits in the side."
GWS (2-7) are aiming to post a winning start under caretaker-coach Mark McVeigh, who has taken over from the departed Leon Cameron.
McVeigh received a blow on Saturday, with three late changes.
Tim Taranto was ruled out with a back complaint while ruck Braydon Preuss and midfielder Lachie Ash were also late withdrawals, but with illness.
GWS were already without Lachie Whitfield (ankle), Nick Haynes (illness), Conor Stone (hamstring) and Finn Callaghan (shoulder).
As a result dropped veteran Matt de Boer earned a reprieve, recalled alongside ruck Matt Flynn and midfielder Xavier O'Halloran.
McVeigh had previously made seven changes to the team that lost to Carlton by 30 points last week, with 23-year-old Jacob Wehr named for his debut.
Forwards Jesse Hogan, Zach Sproule and Bobby Hill were included, along with former Eagle Jarrod Brander.
James Peatling and Tanner Bruhn also come into the side.
West Coast welcome back Shuey and Andrew Gaff (quad), while Jamie Cripps has been given the green light to play after his leg infection cleared up faster than expected.
The injury-ravaged Eagles are in the midst of their worst-ever patch in club history, with their past five losses coming at an average of 81 points.
"We play every game to win," Simpson said.
"It's been a challenge eight out of nine games, but against Melbourne for a couple of quarters there we were really competitive (in last week's 74-point loss).
"Unfortunately that's a win for us to be competitive at the moment."
