WEST Coast coach Adam Simpson hopes his players can stay on task and focus on their qualifying final against Collingwood amid reports Scott Lycett has nominated Port Adelaide as his preferred destination and with star onballer Andrew Gaff's future up in the air.
Ahead of a crucial ruck battle against All Australian Brodie Grundy on Saturday night, restricted free agent Lycett has reportedly told fellow suitor St Kilda he wants to join the Power at season's end.
AFL.com.au reported last week that Western Bulldogs premiership big man Jordan Roughead, also a restricted free agent, had flown west to meet the Eagles, fueling talk Lycett could be on the way out.
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Meanwhile, Gaff has jetted back into Perth after spending nearly a month in Melbourne following his season-ending suspension in round 20.
Gaff, whose return to Perth was complicated by his father's health scare, will train with the Eagles on Monday night at Optus Stadium, and Simpson expects an answer whether the restricted free agent will re-sign in the "next few weeks".
Despite the player movement speculation, Simpson hoped the talk wouldn't distract the Eagles during their premiership push.
"Showing the maturity we need to get over the line this week, that's our priority," Simpson said.
"We've had a lot to deal with this year off-field, which is not ideal but it's just part of the industry now.
"In regards to Scott, his No.1 priority and my No.1 priority with him is to get him right for this weekend.
"Trying to park all the outside noise is our focus and I won't be commenting on what's happening with players' contracts and who is in and out and who we're trying to attract or trying to keep.
"We really rate Scott as a player and we're doing everything we can to keep him."
The Eagles are set to field their first-choice forward line for the first time this season when spearhead Josh Kennedy (shin) returns against the Pies.
Young tall Oscar Allen is expected to make way, but West Coast will still have three finals debutants – speedsters Willie Rioli, Liam Ryan and Daniel Venables – in attack.
"We've been pretty happy with the kids coming through, but it's another level this weekend so more than anything we're going to need our leaders," Simpson said.
The Eagles should boast dangerous marking power in attack – with Kennedy alongside Jack Darling and forward-ruck Nathan Vardy – but Simpson played down talk they could exploit the Magpies' undersized backline.
"I look at Collingwood's system rather than their individuals," he said.
"We went through that in '15, we lost (key defenders Mitch) Brown and (Eric) Mackenzie through (knee) reconstructions and we had to play a different way and we found a way.
"I see Collingwood very similar in how they've gone about it, it's based around their whole team, not just three or four individuals, and I don't see that changing."
Lewis Jetta (calf) is also in the mix to return against Collingwood, and West Coast might need to drop a tall defender – Will Schofield or Tom Barrass – to combat the visitors' multi-pronged and nimble attack.
The Eagles will hold match committee three times before settling on the final 22 by Thursday's team lodgement.
"There will be healthy debate, there has to be," Simpson said.
"It's a good problem to have, not ideal for some of our players, I know that.
"It will come down to match-ups, it will come down to form, and we'll see how we go."
Simpson, who signed a three-year contract extension until the end of 2022 last week, was speaking at Optus Stadium to announce West Coast's sponsorship extension with Edith Cowan University.
