A NUMBER of West Coast players will be dropped this week but underperforming star forward Mark LeCras won’t be one of them, coach Adam Simpson says.

The inconsistent Eagles are desperate to find some form after losing their last two. 

Simpson flagged changes immediately after the second-half collapse against Adelaide last weekend. 

There are likely to be at least three changes for the side that travels to the Gabba to take on the struggling Brisbane Lions on Saturday. 

Nic Naitanui has been ruled out for the next 6-8 weeks following surgery on a tendon near his Achilles. Experienced defenders Eric Mackenzie (illness) and Sam Butler (abductor) are both set to available. 

Questions have been raised around LeCras' form after he was held goalless for the fifth time this season against the Crows. He has averaged just 12 disposals over the last six weeks but he did kick a bag of six goals in round eight against St Kilda. 

Simpson admitted that the veteran was under the "spotlight" both externally and internally but he said he backed his star forward to come good. 

"There's no doubt he's not playing at his best at the moment," Simpson said on Wednesday.

"But he's got some credits.  and you've got to work your way through these things. Sometimes it is through reserve level, but at the moment we'll back him in."

The coach said a decision needed to be made on other players such as Jack Redden and Jamie Cripps.

"Some guys are struggling at the moment for form, so we need to work our way through where they're at and whether they need to play at East Perth to get their form back or whether we back them in," he said. 

"We understand and they understand they need to get better. We haven't seen the best of some of our players this year. We're doing everything we can to get them right and get them playing at their best." 

Simpson said Lewis Jetta was a chance to return despite only gathering eight touches in his last outing for East Perth. 

"He's definitely one who's in the mix," Simpson said. 

"Especially as our ball use was one of the main factors on the weekend that fell down - our inability to connect. He's one guy who can do that."

Patrick McGinnity is another who could be included. He has averaged 25 disposals in his last three games for East Perth. 

Simpson said the Eagles' midfield was too heavily reliant on Matt Priddis and Luke Shuey.