WEST Coast is slowly piecing its first-choice forward line together, but coach Adam Simpson doesn't expect livewire Willie Rioli to be available for multiple weeks while the Eagles get to the bottom of his foot complaint.
Star spearhead Josh Kennedy has been confirmed for his 200th club game against Greater Western Sydney after his own foot soreness, while small forward Jamie Cripps will return from toe surgery on managed minutes in a WAFL scratch match on Saturday.
But Rioli doesn't have a return date, and is awaiting the outcome of another scan.
"He's got a stress-related foot injury. It's not a stress fracture. We've just got to give it some time to settle down. He won't be available this week and probably not next week either. We've just got to take it slow," Simpson said.
"It's really disappointing. Obviously Jamie Cripps not being available and Mark LeCras from last year, we've got some real opportunity for our kids in that position, but it's become a really important position the high half-forward role."
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The Eagles were without four of their five leading goalkickers from 2018 in the season-opening loss to Brisbane at the Gabba, and Kennedy's return will be invaluable in an inexperienced forward line.
Youngsters Jarrod Brander and Jake Waterman have made way, and ex-Collingwood recruit Josh Smith has been picked to provide extra run but could spend some time in attack on his club debut.
Simpson wouldn't reveal how many minutes Kennedy was expected to play, but tipped the dual Coleman medallist to get up to speed quickly against the Giants.
Kennedy returned from ankle surgery in round four last year and booted 5.3 against Gold Coast, but was rusty going for marks and booted 2.4 coming back from hairline fractures in his knee against Collingwood in the qualifying final.
"He'll be OK, he's not far off full strength," Simpson said.
"He's spent a lot of time over the last few years coming back from extended periods off, so last year, I think he still had five or six shots at goal (against Collingwood), so if he can do that we'll take it."
Simpson hinted he could send tagger Mark Hutchings to target GWS prime mover Lachie Whitfield, who had 30 disposals and five inside 50s in a humiliation of Essendon in round one.
"I think Whitfield has taken his game to another level already," Simpson said.
"He's probably their quickest player, and he's also running 17kms, and then he can play half-forward, wing and down back … finding a match-up, he can really pull you apart from a structural point of view."
The Giants have lost star forward Toby Greene (calf) and are still missing star Josh Kelly (hip/knee), but Stephen Congilio shapes as another major midfield threat after slotting three goals from 31 touches against the Dons.
"They're A-graders (Whitfield and Coniglio). They're not babies anymore. They're men," Simpson said.
"They've done their apprenticeship, so they're in the prime of their life at the moment. That's another problem we've got."
The Eagles have a major evening of celebrations planned at Optus Stadium this Saturday night.
West Coast will toast skipper Shannon Hurn (250 games), Chris Masten (200) and Kennedy's milestones after unfurling the club's fourth premiership flag.
"Probably (more of a boost) for the fans (than players). I don't even know what that entails, we run out on the ground and we play," Simpson said.
"We're not hiding away from the fact we've just come off a premiership. There's nothing wrong with acknowledging that, and it should if anything give you confidence.
"But we're also aware of where we're at. It's a different season, it's a new year, new players."
