ADAM Simpson expects confusion to reign in West Coast's first NAB Challenge match against Fremantle, as players and the new coaching staff get used to a new style of play.

The Eagles have picked a strong squad for Tuesday's match with Nic Naitanui, Beau Waters and Andrew Gaff the notable absentees.

Naitanui is being carefully managed in the lead-up to round one due to persistent groin issues. Waters is still a long way off returning due to a shoulder problem while Gaff is recovering from an infection caused by minor dental surgery.

Simpson said the quality of the squad was not to ensure a win against Fremantle, but rather to get the senior players used to the new system being implemented.

"It's a not a case of needing a good team in to have a good performance," Simpson said.

"We need our senior players playing so we can get some good connection with our ball movement and how we defend and all those things.  

"It could get messy. We've got so many rotations, a new style of play. No doubt they'll revert to habits that don't suit what we're doing now. But we'll be OK."

Simpson is unsure how his new coaching group is going to go in their first game together in the box. He has kept the message pretty simple for his coaches and his players if things do get off track.

"We've got to be composed in the box, that's the first thing," Simpson said.

"But the way we've prepared ourselves this week has been pretty straight forward. We haven't gone into too much depth, definitely with the opposition.

"We've made the instructions pretty simple. Hopefully we've got them to a level where they're pretty clear in what they need to do.

"We've also said they've got to be aware they may revert back to old habits.

"That’s not to say they're bad habits, they're just not the ones we're teaching at the moment. We'll just roll with it."

The first year coach believes there are plenty of spots available in the Eagles best 22 for round one against the Western Bulldogs.

"In my mind and in our coaches' minds, there's a good seven or eight positions available," Simpson said.

"And there's probably 10 or 12 players putting their hands up for them. So that's what we'll find out in the next few weeks.

"They're playing for spots. I've been through the experience of having a new coach and you feel like you have to prove yourself again.