NEITHER Nic Naitanui or Shane Mumford will be "intimidated" in a vital ruck battle on Saturday, according to West Coast coach Adam Simpson.

Naitanui and Mumford are set to square off as the Eagles travel to Spotless Stadium to face Greater Western Sydney in a game that will shape the top-eight.

Simpson said the ruck battle will be vitally important and expects that neither man would take a backward step.

"I think both ruckmen aren't intimidated about playing against each other, put it that way," Simpson said on Thursday.

"It's becoming a real fierce battle every week in the ruck. Anyone who suggests that ruckmen aren't important these days just have a look at the top teams and how important they are.

"It's definitely important for us and I reckon the Giants are the same. Two A-grade ruckmen and hopefully we've got Scott Lycett coming through as well who can help out with Nic. But there'll be a lot of weight around that contest for sure."

Giants youngster Rory Lobb will also be part of the equation and Giants coach Leon Cameron said on Wednesday that he would have also have a big part to play.

Simpson said Naitanui had pulled up well following his first game back after six weeks out due to plantaris tendon surgery on both legs.

"He recovered pretty well," Simpson said.

"He trained last night and did extras after training. I think it was an important game for him to get that under his belt. We'll look for a little bit more from him this week. His body's pretty good."

The ruck battle will be pivotal given the ability of both sides to score heavily from stoppages. The Giants are the number one scoring team from stoppages this year while West Coast is ranked second.

Simpson said the Giants were underrated for the contested side of their game.

"They're a very good running side," Simpson said.

"But their contested stuff is their main strength and what they do from stoppages as well. I think it would be too simplistic to say they're just a hard-running side. I think every side has that capability and they've got some elite runners. But what they do with the contest is probably their main strength, so we need to match that."

There have been major question marks over the Eagles' ability to match top-eight sides in contested football this season. But Simpson felt that the Eagles showed some positive signs last week in the win over Fremantle.