ADAM Simpson is excited to see what debutant Willie Rioli can offer in an inexperienced attack against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday, with the West Coast coach insisting he isn't concerned taking a young forward line into the Etihad Stadium clash.

Rioli will become the club's fourth debutant this season after Liam Ryan, Daniel Venables and Jake Waterman all played in the season-opening loss to Sydney.  

That quartet is expected to spend the majority of their game time in the front half against the Dogs as the Eagles adapt to life without dual Coleman medallist Josh Kennedy.  

While Kennedy won't be back before round four, Simpson isn't losing sleep pondering how to cover his prized spearhead with a youthful forward structure.

"It's not sleepless at all. In fact, it's the opposite," Simpson said.

"What will be, will be. We've got to coach around the youth, but the Bulldogs are young too. 

"For us, it's probably the youngest side we've played since I've been here – I'm not sure if that's true or not - but that's fine.

"I think it's exciting. I think we've gone past the nervous part and embrace the transition we're in. 

"Those guys all held up their own last week at certain stages, and they're going to get better with games. 

"They're going to have ups-and-downs, we're OK with that.  

"We're not going to give games away but there's definitely opportunities there for growth. 

"One thing we do want in our front half is pressure. 

"We want them to bring pressure and physicality – and they've all got that ability – and they've all got speed, which helps."

Rioli was quiet for East Perth last Saturday, only picking up seven disposals on a tough day for forwards in a 104-point belting from Peel.

But the 22-year-old has shown promising signs over pre-season, despite battling a sore knee after AFLX and rolling his ankle in the last JLT Community Series clash with Fremantle.

"His fitness is good. He was almost available last week. It's not a punt at all," Simpson said.

"He good some good minutes in, really good intensity – AFL-like intensity – so he's ready to play. 

"He's always had AFL qualities. It feels like a short journey (to the AFL) but he missed 10-to-12 weeks last year with a hamstring injury. 

"Battling to keep fit and get fit has been a bit of a struggle when you have injuries like that. 

"He's a bit more mature-age than most recruits. He's got a long-time partner and a child, so he's a man. 

"His journey's been short in the AFL but it's actually been quite a long one in terms of getting where he is today."

Talismanic ruckman Nic Naitanui pulled up well from his return match against Sydney and Simpson was confident his most important player would be able to produce another influential performance in his second game back from a knee reconstruction.

The Eagles are being careful not to "cook" Naitanui and will manage his game time for at least the first month of the campaign.

"I think everyone's different with the second game back," Simpson said. 

"He's trained all week. He's pulled up really well. We won't overdo it, we understand Etihad's a hard surface and Optus (Stadium) is hard as well.

"We've just got to manage some of our injury-prone players who do sometimes pull up a bit sore on hard decks.

"He's one of them. Second game back he's really clear about his focus points.

"As long as he brings his effort and attitude I think he'll be OK."