IT WILL be an "added bonus" if returning big men Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett can restore West Coast's ruck dominance this season, according to new assistant coach Nathan van Berlo.

The club's first-year midfield and stoppage coach is planning for the Eagles to at least break even in the hit-outs, but is also busy plotting other ways to make West Coast more unpredictable around clearances.

"What we've tried to do is to say if that Nic or Scotty, or if we have ruck dominance from any of our rucks, that's going to be an added bonus for us," van Berlo said.

"We know what they're all capable of but our fundamentals around the stoppage aren't going to change.

"So we're going to bank on that we're breaking even, and if we get that advantage then we'll try and manipulate from there."

While the Eagles were prepared for life without Naitanui last season, Lycett's shoulder issues were a huge blow as he managed just one AFL appearance.

Recruits Nathan Vardy and Drew Petrie battled manfully in their absence but West Coast's one-time advantage around clearances quickly disappeared.

However, Lycett is healthy again and has completed "virtually every session" this summer, while the Eagles are targeting their last JLT Community Series clash with Fremantle for Naitanui's long-awaited return from his knee reconstruction. 

"He's (Naitanui) going to be up and running sooner rather than later for games and he just wants to play footy again," van Berlo said.

"We've been able to do a fair bit of (stoppage) work together, whether it be with ruck work, some ruck-mid connection with our younger guys as well.

"He's been joining in some drills from time to time as well.

"He's preparing for season 2018 and that's going to remain the case until we get further down the track."

Naitanui only completed about 30 minutes of running exercises before leaving training at Domain Stadium on Wednesday morning, while Vardy walked laps after appearing to hurt a knee during Monday's session.

Dual Coleman medallist Josh Kennedy (ankle) and key defender Eric Mackenzie (toe) weren't sighted, while Elliot Yeo was a casualty of AFLX practice and required ice on his left ankle.

After winning the John Worsfold Medal playing mainly at half-back last year, Yeo is expected to take on a beefed-up midfield role as the Eagles adapt without clearance king Matt Priddis and fellow retiree Sam Mitchell in 2018.

But van Berlo, who was a development coach at Adelaide last season and witnessed the club's vast midfield improvement, is preaching flexibility and expects plenty of Eagles will be trialled around stoppages.

"It's about adding a bit of diversity to their game and almost making us a bit more unpredictable in stoppage situations as well," the 205-game former Crow said.

"You'll see some forwards come up, might see some defenders roll through as well.

"We'll try to expose everyone at some stage throughout pre-season at some stage to see what they're capable of around a stoppage."