WEST Coast is hopeful star ruckman Nic Naitanui will be available for Sunday's Western Derby but Eagles coach Adam Simpson says he still needs to get through another week of training. 

Naitanui hasn't played since he had surgery to remove both plantaris tendons in his feet following the round 12 loss to Adelaide.

He was close to returning last week but the Eagles elected not to take him to Melbourne for the clash with Collingwood at the MCG.

Naitanui appears set to return against Fremantle on Sunday but Simpson said he was not a lock to play just yet. 

"We hope so but we'll have to see how he gets through the week," Simpson told Channel Seven on Monday night.

"At the moment we need to see how he trains. He was almost available last week but he had a really big session on the weekend so we need to see how he pulls up and trains during the week. But fingers crossed."

Dockers ruckman Aaron Sandilands is also set to return on Sunday. He has not played since Naitanui's knee fractured several of his ribs and punctured his lung in round three in a marking contest.

Simpson said Naitanui's return would help the Eagles but it won't solve all their issues.

"We can't put all our eggs in that basket," Simpson said.

"I think we've got a few more issues than that with our ability to play four quarters and win the hunt.

"The fact that Nic might be available will help the situation, I'm sure."

Simpson lamented the Eagles' second term against Collingwood on Saturday where they lost the contested possession count by 25. They finished -34 for the match.

But that wasn't their worst contested possession performance of the season. The Eagles were -37 for contested possessions against the Western Bulldogs in an eight-point loss in round 11. They were also -25 against Hawthorn in a 46-point loss in round two.

The Eagles are desperate for more contributors in the midfield.

Eagles utility Elliot Yeo was a late withdrawal with illness last week for the second time this season but he is in the mix to return. Young defender Tom Barrass was rested against Collingwood and is also a big chance to play against the Dockers.