WEST Coast star Matt Priddis has declared himself fit for Saturday's blockbuster with the Sydney Swans at the SCG despite training with the rehab group on Monday.
Priddis was a late withdrawal from the Eagles' clash with Richmond last Friday night.
The Brownlow medallist told Channel Nine on Monday night that he was close to playing last week and said he should be right to face the Swans.
"I had a slight groin strain," Priddis said.
"It didn't quite come up. I was given every opportunity to get up for the game but unfortunately wasn't able to play.
"I trained with the rehab group today. It's a controlled environment and I got some really good volume into the legs. I'll join the main group for the main training session on Wednesday.
"I'll be right."
Eagles coach Adam Simpson told Perth radio station 6PR on Monday night that he expects Priddis to play.
"I asked him today and he said he's 100 per cent," Simpson said.
"He does hide injuries pretty well, Pridda. We'll back him in and he'll tell us by the end of training Wednesday but we're planning for him to play and we think he'll come up."
Simpson said his players had pulled up reasonably well after back-to-back six-day breaks.
Andrew Gaff only did some stationary handball work at training on Monday and left the track early but Simpson said he would be fine to face the Swans.
"Gaffy's got a bit of knock but I think he'll be fine and the rest of the boys have pulled up OK," Simpson said.
Key defender Eric Mackenzie didn't train at Monday's light recovery session but did make an appearance on the track. Mackenzie has not trained in the last two Monday sessions in a bid to manage an ongoing toe problem.
The Eagles are set to be without ruckman Scott Lycett this week after the club accepted a one-match ban for striking Richmond's Ty Vickery on Friday. Simpson said he had a brief look at challenging the charge but did not dwell on it long.
"I think he got what he deserved in the end," Simpson said.
"It was unnecessary. We'll accept and move on and he won't do it again."
Possible replacement Jonathan Giles only did some stationary handball work with Gaff during Monday's session and also left the track early. Giles kicked three goals and had 24 hit-outs for East Perth in the WAFL last Saturday and is one of a couple of options available for Simpson.
The coach said both Fraser McInnes and Jeremy McGovern could also play as the second ruck.
"We haven't met on that yet," Simpson said.
"We were really impressed with (the Swans') clearance work and their stoppage structure so it's not just a throwaway position. It's a really important role for us."
Sharrod Wellingham, who missed the opening three rounds due to a pre-season knee injury, could be available this week after getting through his first match of the year in the WAFL on the weekend.
He gathered 17 disposals and took four marks on limited minutes for East Perth on Saturday.
Xavier Ellis appears set to play in the WAFL this week after making a remarkable recovery from a partial tear of his Achilles.
He suffered the injury in round one and was expected to miss up to 10 weeks but he trained on Monday and the club said last week that he could be ready to play for East Perth this weekend.
