WEST Coast young gun Jeremy McGovern is racing the clock to overcome a corked calf ahead of the Eagles' clash with Gold Coast at Domain Stadium on Saturday night.
Eagles coach Adam Simpson said he was hopeful McGovern would be right to play after training on Friday morning.
But coming off a six-day break after the win over Port Adelaide last Sunday, McGovern will be given right up until game-time to be passed fit.
"We'll give him until tomorrow," Simpson said.
"He trained today, so it's more about how he pulls up. It's just a cork. But (with a) six-day break, we need every minute."
McGovern racing the clock to prove his fitness for a match has become a regular occurrence this year.
He suffered bone bruising in his knee following the loss to Fremantle in round three but recovered well enough to play against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba the following week.
Simpson said McGovern has needed to battle through given the Eagles' lengthy injury list.
"He's been playing sore for a while," Simpson said.
"But we're not batting deep at the moment in tall defenders, so he is really filling a void for us. So we need him to get up."
Simpson said he was confident he would get up but admitted they may have to "get creative" if he can't take his place.
Young defender Jackson Nelson will definitely play in the WAFL after playing just 15 minutes as the sub in the win over Port Adelaide. Simpson conceded he needed a full game after being rested the previous week.
Midfielder Mark Hutchings, who was plagued by a groin issue in the pre-season, comes into the side as the only change for West Coast.
"It's been a long process," Simpson said.
"He played in the midfield last week (in the WAFL) and had 11 clearances and has played pretty consistent footy the last three weeks. So he has deserved his position.
"He's pretty flexible, Hutch. He can play on-ball, forward or run-with if we have to. So that's part of the reason why he comes into the side, he has flexibility.
"We have been in reasonable form with our mids so hopefully he helps with that depth."
Simpson said key forward Josh Kennedy will be fine to play after dislocating his finger last weekend in the win over Port Adelaide.
His troubled elbow is progressing well but the finger is a slight concern.
"His elbow is progressing how we thought it would, but having an elbow and a finger (injury) on both sides of your body just makes it a bit harder," Simpson said.
"But we think he's going to be OK."
Matt Rosa has been ruled out for a couple of weeks after he aggravated his hamstring injury at training this week.
Rosa missed the wins over Greater Western Sydney and Port Adelaide due to back-related hamstring tightness following to the trip to Brisbane.
"Just when we got him through all the testing and got him available, he broke down at training," Simpson said
"It's disappointing for him."
Xavier Ellis is finally set to make his return in the WAFL this weekend after missing nine weeks with what was, initially, a relatively minor hamstring strain.
