WEST Coast midfielder Daniel Kerr's long absence from the Western Derby stage appears set to continue this week, with coach John Worsfold declaring he was less than a 50-50 chance and the club would take no risks with his fitness.
Kerr has missed the Eagles' past four clashes against Fremantle and he was a dramatic late withdrawal from the round eight derby, along with Andrew Embley, with a strained adductor.
The 28-year-old missed last Saturday's 21-point loss to St Kilda with hip and glute complaints and he has been a questionable proposition going into matches for the past seven weeks.
"It's all about risk, that's the big thing. We don't want to take any risks with him," Worsfold said at a joint press conference with Fremantle coach Mark Harvey on Thursday.
"He's well and truly aware of how he feels and whether he's up to playing or not. He's played a couple of games this year where he hasn't been 100 per cent but he's been confident he could get through.
"That's why we have to wait until pretty late. Certainly for the immediate period we have to manage him."
Reports on Thursday suggested that young forward Jack Darling and ruck sensation Nic Naitanui were in doubt for Sunday's derby after arriving at the team's recovery session on Monday carrying scans.
But Worsfold said both players were fine and joked that Naitanui, who is expected to undergo shoulder surgery at the end of the season, might not have been carrying his own scans.
"They might have been [Kerr's]," he said. "[Naitanui's] fine, no dramas."
The fifth-placed Eagles broke a four-year losing run by beating Fremantle by 33 points in the round eight derby, and they enter Sunday's match with a spot in the top four beckoning.
It is the most important clash between these sides since round 21, 2006, when both were occupying the top four. Fremantle is now just one game behind the Eagles after a gutsy 11-point win over the Sydney Swans at the SCG in round 17.
Worsfold acknowledged his team had started slowly against St Kilda last Saturday, falling six goals behind at the first break at Etihad Stadium, but he said there were no concerns about a drop off in intensity.
"It's ongoing management of your whole list, your fixtures, where you're playing and who you're playing," he said.
"Some players are on the rise because they're coming back from injury, others have had a big campaign. There's a lot you're taking into account."
Nathan Schmook covers West Coast and Fremantle news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_NSchmook
