WEST Coast coach Adam Simpson threw down the gauntlet to dominant ruck duo Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett to win the "very important" battle against Carlton's Matthew Kreuzer before the influential big Blue was ruled out.
Simpson was expecting Kreuzer to play as the struggling Blues search for a pressure-relieving victory after an 0-4 start.
Naitanui and Lycett have reignited West Coast's engine room by regularly getting first hand to the ball (ranked No.2 for hit-outs), and will like their chances against Andrew Phillips on Saturday.
"No disrespect to the ruckmen we've faced in the last four weeks, (but) I think this is the biggest challenge for Nic and Scott," Simpson said before the teams were revealed.
"They're looking forward to it. I don't think Scott has rucked against 'Kreuz' before, so that will be a very important battle for both sides.
"It's a little bit frustrating to get some dominance like we have with our hit-outs (and not dominate clearances).
"This is a good problem for us to have. We haven't quite mastered it yet.
"If we get good supply with our ruck hits, turning that into clearances, field position and scores is the next step. We're going OK, but I reckon we can get better."
Simpson declared backman Brad Sheppard (corked quad) would be fit, and expected star midfielder Luke Shuey, who is reportedly battling turf toe, to take his spot.
Shuey needs to get through a rare training session at the MCG on Friday – the club's first since the lead up to the 2015 Grand Final – before being ticked off.
"We ask a lot if we can do that (train at the MCG), so to get that opportunity is great," Simpson said.
"The timing has got to be right and we understand there's games on there and they've got to prepare the ground.
"But like I said last week, teams that come over here get to train at Optus Stadium, so the request was granted this week.
"We do appreciate that, but it's not like it's a special gift. It's probably what we should be getting."
The Eagles have taken the points only once from their past six MCG visits – against the Blues in round 17, 2016 – but Simpson hasn't focused on the wider ground dimensions with his players this week.
However, West Coast has trained at an MCG-sized oval at Lathlain Park.
"I've said this for a long time, the length and the width of the ground – albeit it's different – it shouldn't really matter," Simpson said.
"(It's) about your intent and your contest, and that's what we're really focusing on."
The Eagles will have at least one change after Daniel Venables joined fellow first-year forward Liam Ryan on the sidelines for at least 10 weeks with an ankle injury.
Simpson hinted that more youngsters could be in the mix for a role across half-forward, including speedster Jack Petruccelle, Luke Partington and Malcolm Karpany.
In positive injury news, recruit Brendon Ah Chee (ankle) and draftee Oscar Allen (shin) will return for East Perth this weekend.
Versatile tall Nathan Vardy (adductor) should be back for the Royals' clash with Fremantle-aligned Peel before the first Western Derby at Optus Stadium on April 29.
