WEST Coast believes it has "dodged a bullet" and key forward Jack Darling could be available for round one after follow-up scans revealed surgery would not be required on his injured left ankle.
Darling was trapped under a tackle during match simulation training last Friday and left the ground in pain, prompting fears he has suffered a potentially long-term syndesmosis injury.
Coach Adam Simpson admitted the club had also feared the worst after being scarred by last year's injury crisis but said the Eagles had received good news after follow-up scans.
"I don't think it's too severe. He'll be touch and go for round one, but knowing the way he is, I think he'll be ok. So no surgery, just an ankle," Simpson said on Tuesday.
"We'll see how he recovers (in) the next couple of weeks. It just took us a bit of time to get where we needed to with scans and extra scans, and we'll take it pretty easy with him. Hopefully we've dodged a bullet.
"In the end it was a pretty easy decision [not to have surgery], but we wanted to take our time with it all, get the scans back, get the right reports, and then make a decision today."
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Darling, who missed a large chunk of last pre-season, will miss this Friday's intra-club match and is unlikely to feature in the Eagles' two practice games, against Port Adelaide and Adelaide.
Watching one of his most important players leave the track in pain, Simpson said his thoughts were drawn to last February when a host of key Eagles suffered serious injuries on the eve of the season.
"We had Dom (Sheed) and Campbell Chesser at the same time, and Oscar Allen, and none of those guys played," the coach said.
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"The bruising we got from last year, there's those fleeting thoughts that come into your mind.
"But we've got to stay resilient. Injuries are going to happen. We had our fair share last year, so hopefully we'll get a better run at it, which we have.
"It's just when you get one of those, you do worry a little bit."
Young key forward Jack Williams also sent a scare through the camp on Tuesday when he was taken to hospital as a precaution after a training incident.
"He got a knock today in the ribs," Simpson said.
"He's gone off to hospital as a precaution with his lung. It might have deflated a tiny bit. We didn't want to take any risks.
"Hopefully it's not as serious as it sounds. But it was more of a precaution."
An intra-club hitout this Friday will give West Coast the opportunity to ramp up the training minutes of Liam Duggan, Shannon Hurn and Chesser, who all played one quarter of last Friday's internal trial.
Simpson said the trio would play half the 100-minute hitout at Mineral Resources Park, which will provide a lead-in to the first practice game, against Port Adelaide on February 24.
The Eagles then play Adelaide on March 3 before launching their season against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, March 18.
Draftees Reuben Ginbey and Elijah Hewett are appearing stronger chances to feature in the season-opener as each session passes, with the prized pair impressing with the opportunities they are getting.
While Ginbey rotates through half-back, Hewett has spent time forward and earned his place in what looked like the Eagles' best line-up at the start of last Friday's match simulation session.
"He's been playing forward and pinch-hitting onball, and that suits him at the moment with his young body and young tank," Simpson said.
"The young guys we've got to the club – and that includes (Jayden) Hunt as well – they're getting good opportunities and they're standing up.
"There was a few years ago where we played three or four debutants in round one … things can turn pretty quickly when you get that young talent through.
"We won't rush them, but if their form is good enough, we'll play them."
