WEST Coast coach Adam Simpson has taken a pot shot at Essendon boss John Worsfold over his suggestion that the Bombers might target Eagles defenders Eric Mackenzie and Mitch Brown for trades.

Simpson said clubs should hold back on trade talk while teams were preparing for finals.

Former Eagles coach Worsfold said on SEN radio last week, "There are a couple of key defenders at West Coast who look like they have had their positions taken by a young player called [Tom] Barrass. 

"Who knows where they sit?

"Mackenzie and Brown didn't play a lot in the second half of the year or a lot this year. I don't know where they sit contractually."

The Eagles are preparing for an elimination final next week at Domain Stadium, and Simpson said on Thursday, "I'm reluctant to talk about trades while we're right in the middle of a finals campaign.

"I'm sure Essendon would take the conversation back if they could.

"It's OK if you're out of the finals, but to talk about other clubs who have got players playing finals footy, I think we need to hold back on that.

"I suppose that's one of the drawbacks of having a bye. There's all this trade talk happening this week because there's a bit more time.

"I think we need to respect the fact there's teams still playing in the finals and individuals still fighting for spots. So I'll pull back on that answer."

Mackenzie, 28, is contracted to West Coast for next season but can't find a spot in the Eagles' best 22 at the moment due to the form of young defender Tom Barrass, who won a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination this week.

Both Mackenzie and Brown remain in the mix for the Eagles in the finals but both would need injuries to teammates to gain an opportunity.

The Eagles look set to go unchanged into the elimination final after a stunning performance against Adelaide in round 23.

There is some concern over ruckman Scott Lycett, who has been battling posterior cruciate soreness in his left knee throughout the second half of the season and copped another knock in the win over the Crows.

He missed training on Tuesday after pulling up very sore and required scans to investigate whether the knee was still structurally sound.

Simpson said Lycett was fine after the scans but they would continue to monitor him this week.

"He's sore. He's fine. He'll be OK," Simpson said.

"We'll see how he trains during the week, but we think he'll be available.

Simpson said there was no risk of long-term damage by playing, but he did concede that another knock would severely hamper Lycett during a game.

The Eagles also have another hurdle with the All Australian awards on Thursday night. The Eagles have four nominees, Josh Kennedy, Jeremy McGovern, Andrew Gaff and Luke Shuey, in the 40-man squad.

Simpson couldn't reveal who had made the final 22 but he did reveal that a couple of his players had been forced to travel for the awards in Melbourne on Thursday.

He said it would hinder the preparation of those players "a little bit.

"One of the reasons they put the bye in is so everyone could attend. But it's another trip over east, and they miss training today. That's just the way it is."