WEST Coast's best-laid plans to cope with only a five-day break between games after travelling interstate will be put to the test in tonight's crunch clash against bogey side Sydney at Domain Stadium.
The Eagles haven't been impressed by the short turnaround for round four, to say the least, and have raced the clock from the moment the players trudged off the sodden MCG last Saturday afternoon, having gone down in an 11-point slugfest to Richmond.
After conducting their post-match review in Melbourne, the Eagles flew four hours cross-country to get home late that evening, and have since been in "full-on recovery mode", according to coach Adam Simpson.
The players undertook individual recovery on Sunday and used Monday's light training session mostly for stretching and jogging laps to get their legs ticking over.
Simpson chose not to hold main training this week and kept the number of meetings to a minimum, with extra attention paid to reviving sore bodies through ice baths and massages.
Every aspect of the recovery plan was mapped out well in advance to prepare for the winless and injury-hit Swans, who suffered an epic one-point loss to Collingwood – on their home deck at the SCG – last Friday night.
West Coast's formula has seen 20 of the side who lost to Richmond picked for the Sydney clash, however tall forward Jack Darling (ankle) will remain in doubt until final teams are lodged.
Lewis Jetta and Mark Hutchings have been dropped after quiet games, replaced by Liam Duggan and Sam Butler – last week's travelling emergency – for their first senior appearances in 2017 against a side that has had the wood over West Coast.
The Swans have won nine of the past 10 encounters stretching back to 2008.
Five of the last six clashes have been at Domain Stadium, with the Swans taking the points home on four occasions.
A youthful Sydney outfit has flown west this week, only adding to the unknowns before the bounce.
But how the Eagles perform after a shorter than usual break following an interstate game will be the biggest talking point – and recent history is not much of a guide.
Over the past decade, the only side to face a similar challenge was the Brisbane Lions.
In 2014, the Lions, who finished 15th that season, were thumped by Port Adelaide to the tune of 113 points at Adelaide Oval in round four and then lost to Richmond by 43 points at the Gabba five days later.
Both the Power and Tigers went on to play finals that season.
In 2012, the Lions defeated Melbourne at the MCG in round one by 41 points, before copping a 91-point hiding from Carlton at the Gabba off a five-day break.
The Blues finished the season 10th, three spots ahead of the Lions, and the Dees only won four games for the year to end up 16th.
However tonight's match unfolds, Simpson won't use West Coast's five-day break as an excuse.
"We've known for a while, so we've planned it as well as we can," he told Channel Seven this week.
"I think our players are pretty keen to turn around as quick as we can (from the Richmond defeat).
"It certainly won't be a reason or an excuse if we lose this one."
