WEST Coast is confident ruckman Nic Naitanui will be cleared to face Adelaide in Saturday night's crunch game at Domain Stadium after recovering from an Achilles tendon injury.

Naitanui was on crutches on Monday after the long-running problem flared in the Eagles' loss to the Western Bulldogs on the notoriously hard Etihad Stadium surface.

But the star big man should be passed fit later this week, according to the Eagles, and available for a crucial battle with Adelaide ruckman Sam Jacobs. 

"Nic got a lot of attention yesterday in respect to being on crutches, but that's a normal de-loading process we've been using for quite a while now for his Achilles," football manager Craig Vozzo told the club's website.  

"Nic's had that problem for quite a while and we're comfortable with how he's progressing and it'll be a normal week for Nic where we get him up for the game and we're confident he'll be available."

Key defender Jeremy McGovern should be fit to return from a virus, Vozzo said, after missing the loss to the Bulldogs.

Experienced defender Xavier Ellis has a niggling wrist injury and did not play for East Perth on WA Day in order to keep him available for this week's clash against Adelaide. 

The Eagles said young midfielder Dom Sheed was edging closer to his return at WAFL level after battling pectoral and knee injuries.