The highly anticipated union of the AFL’s premier ruckman, Dean Cox, and his emerging understudy Nic Naitanui will come to fruition when the West Coast Eagles play Port Adelaide in a round two NAB Cup match at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.

Cox, who has worked to a carefully planned training program over the pre-season, is ready to resume after sitting out the opening match of the NAB Cup where he and the rest of the football world marvelled at the output of Naitanui.

While Naitanui is likely to do most of the ruck work in this game, as Cox is eased back into battle, it will provide the coaching staff with the opportunity to have the two big men working in tandem for only the third time.

Cox  played just two games with Naitanui last year, albeit under duress as a groin injury - which ultimately cut short his season - restricted his game time and influence.

While Cox returns to the squad for this contest, several other senior players, including Daniel Kerr, Matt Priddis, Shannon Hurn and Andrew Embley have been rested. That is part of the match committee’s scheme to expose all players to a meticulously-planned workload in preparation for round one of the season proper.

Coming into the 29-man squad are powerful utility player Mitch Brown, rugged defender Beau Waters, emerging midfielder Tom Swift, key defenders Eric Mackenzie and Matt Spangher, rookies Andrew Strijk and Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls and the combative Pat McGinnity.

Waters, the highly-respected premiership half-back, has had a well-publicised injury battle in the last two years after dislocating an elbow playing for Claremont in the middle of the 2008 season. His return is sure to draw a powerful response from the West Coast faithful as his aggression and fearless approach have made him a crowd favourite.

Brown, Spangher and Mackenzie, all capable of holding down key position posts, have come off interrupted pre-season programs, but all are ready to now push for selection in round one.

Swift and McGinnity are young players who have emerged in the last 12 months with strong claims for inclusion in the club’s first 22 and will also be keen to stake a claim for a trip to Brisbane for the March 27 season opener at the Gabba.

Oakley-Nicholls, secured in the rookie draft after being de-listed by Richmond, has impressed on the training track since his arrival at West Coast and offers another dimension to the team structure, while Strijk is a mature rookie who has played several seasons of senior football at West Perth where he is highly rated.