West Coast coach Adam Simpson says Nic Naitanui is no guarantee to return in the coming weeks as the star ruckman's comeback from an Achilles injury continues to drag on.
Naitanui missed the club's two pre-season games with the injury, and he's also been ruled out of Saturday's AFL clash with North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.
The 32-year-old is hoping he can return for the round-two home encounter against GWS, but there are no guarantees.
Simpson says Naitanui wasn't close to playing this week, and the club will continue to monitor him.
"If it was mid-season we'd get him through, but it's such a long year and we've got to build the Achilles and all the muscles around it," Simpson told reporters on Thursday.
"What he tolerates, how he recovers - it's just week to week.
"It could be short term, it could be longer term. We can't tell you to be honest.
"There's no set time, because it's tick a box, get to the next level, tick a box. He's still building."
Naitanui recently upped his running loads, but how quickly he progresses remains to be seen."
"If you get to a point where you get through 7km and you can tolerate it, then the next week you do 8km," Simpson said.
"If you (can't tolerate it), you pull back to five.
"That's how we're handling it. He started his running last week really.
"That build will continue in the next week or two, until he starts knocking on the door and the docs tick him off."
Star veteran Elliot Yeo is expected to miss two weeks after injuring his calf at training this week.
But forward Jack Darling has overcome an ankle injury and will make it to the line for the round-one encounter.
West Coast's relatively healthy list is in stark contrast to last season, when they were hit hard by injuries and COVID-19 in the lead-up to their doomed 2-20 campaign.
Simpson will unleash three debutants this week - Campbell Chesser, Reuben Ginbey and Noah Long.
"It's the dawn of a new era really with these kids coming in and all (three) of them teenagers," Simpson said.
"Looking forward to see what they've got. Not putting too many expectations on them but they deserve to play as well.
"They've had really good looks pre-season and can't wait to see them play."
Former Demon Jayden Hunt will play his first game for the club.
North Melbourne will unveil prized No.3 draft pick Harry Sheezel, while former Docker Griffin Logue and ex-Hawk Liam Shiels will make their Kangaroos debut.
But new coach Alastair Clarkson pulled a selection shock by not including veteran ruckman Todd Goldstein.
Tristan Xerri will instead lead the ruck.
