WEST Coast coach Adam Simpson has conceded the club's season is on the line in Saturday's clash with Sydney at Metricon Stadium. 

The Eagles are yet to taste victory since joining the Gold Coast hub and swung the axe at the selection table, with veteran speedster Lewis Jetta making way along with ruckman Tom Hickey. 

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Also missing will be Jarrod Brander (hip) and Will Schofield (suspension), while Jeremy McGovern, Oscar Allen, Jake Waterman and Jackson Nelson return to the side. 

Simpson said the Eagles (1-3) couldn't afford to drop more points in the shortened season. 

"If we continue to lose there will be a point where we can't pull our way back," Simpson said. 

"That's in front of us … the pressure's a privilege."

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The Eagles coach omitted Jetta due to recent form, with the premiership defender agreeing with the decision. 

"I think you get to a point when you've got some experience and you sort of know you need a bit of reset, so he wasn't surprised," Simpson said. 

The pressure is mounting on the 16th-placed Eagles who were expected to be a flag contender, but Simpson disagreed with old sparring partner and AFL.com.au's own Ross Lyon, who suggested some players appeared overweight. 

"What we're not doing is we're not running on game day," Simpson said. 

"Whether that's in the mind or in the body … the week before we came here we had an intraclub and it was the highest running game we've had at the club. Before they got on the plane they were pretty fit. I don't think it's a fitness issue, I think it's delivering it on game day and doing it all day. 

"That's a challenge for us this week, Sydney are a really good, tight-knit side that rely on the contest and they use the ball well. It's going to be a massive challenge for us this week to get up."