West Coast goalsneak Josh Hill says he feels more comfortable at the Eagles now, and is looking forward to combining with Mark LeCras this year to create a series of AFL highlights.

Hill booted 36 goals in 22 games for the Eagles last year, cementing his spot in the side after fellow small forwards LeCras (knee) and Mark Nicoski (hamstring) suffered season-ending injuries.

With Nicoski still on the long-term injury list, Hill is expected to retain his place in the best 22 this year and says he can't wait to team with LeCras in what's shaping up as a formidable forward line.

While Hill and LeCras will do the damage at ground level, spearheads Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling are set to dominate in the air, with ruckmen Nic Naitanui and Dean Cox also providing valuable marking power.

LeCras is one of the classiest medium-sized forwards in the game and has the ability to kick freak goals in open play from the tightest of angles.

The 26-year-old is equally adept at taking strong marks on the lead, and earned All-Australian honours in 2010 for a campaign that yielded him 63 goals.

Hill played 66 games over five seasons for the Western Bulldogs before being traded to West Coast at the end of 2011.

The 24-year-old enjoyed a solid debut season at the Eagles, and said the return of LeCras would give opposition sides an even bigger headache.

"I know he's got his flair that he brings. I'm going to try to bring my side and work on improving," Hill said ahead of Saturday's western derby against Fremantle.

"Like last year I'm going to start off with the defensive side of my game and look to use that to get involved.

"I feel a lot more comfortable now that I've got a year under my belt at the club."

When asked who had the more flair out of him and LeCras, Hill replied: "He'll probably say him, but I might say me.

"But when you've got Nic Nat there jumping around on shoulders, it's hard to get a touch.

"When the ball's there, we'll all be fighting for it. We're all pretty excited to see what each of us can bring."

The Eagles are warm favourites to beat the Dockers despite missing Naitanui (groin), Daniel Kerr (knee), Matt Rosa (quad), Sharrod Wellingham (ankle) and Nicoski.