WEST Coast coach Adam Simpson will simply ask Drew Petrie to play to his "pretty basic" ruck strengths when he faces former club North Melbourne on Sunday.

Petrie will debut for the Eagles against his old side at Etihad Stadium after playing 316 games in 16 seasons for the Kangaroos. 

The 34-year-old is set to team up with fellow recruit Nathan Vardy to shoulder the ruck duties against Roos star Todd Goldstein and Braydon Preuss in a tough initiation for the new Eagles combo.

Simpson isn't expecting to win the hit-outs, but he just wants his big men to compete.

"I rucked under Drew (at North) for a little while many years ago, so I know what his capabilities are and I know his strengths – and I'm pretty sure North do too – as a ruckman," Simpson said.

"They're pretty basic (strengths). He has a go and he follows up, so as long as he brings that, we'll be OK."

Simpson has sought out his former teammate for a chat about handling the occasion, which comes just six months after his emotional Roos farewell.

"Conversations have been had. I'm sure he'll have nerves," Simpson said.

"You have nerves right up until your last game no matter who you play, especially round one.

"This will be a little bit different, though."

The Eagles are red-hot favourites to topple a youthful North outfit and notch an early victory on the road.

West Coast copped a hammering in its first three away games to Hawthorn, Sydney and Geelong last season, but took confidence from four wins from five interstate matches on the run to the finals.

"We understand that to have any success this year we need to win away," Simpson said.

"Has it been a priority focus for us to win away games this year? I can't say that it has been.

"But this week is the first step towards finals hopefully, so we're out to win it. An away game like this is a great test for us to see where we're at."

The Eagles will release their final team on Friday afternoon with uncertainty still hovering over several players.

Tall defenders Tom Barrass and Will Schofield are in the mix after being named on an extended interchange, although 2014 club champion Eric Mackenzie has been preferred at full-back.

Simpson declared midfielder Dom Sheed was available after overcoming a corked calf, but didn't reveal if the 21-year-old had made the team to face North.

Sheed was on light duties at training on Monday but trained fully during West Coast's main session on Thursday.

He is one of four onballers on the extended bench, including Chris Masten, Mark Hutchings and Jack Redden.