ADAM Simpson insists he won't be coaching to save his future in West Coast's clash with fellow struggler North Melbourne.

The Eagles' 16-match losing run has placed huge pressure on Simpson, who is contracted until the end of 2025 and is eager to lead the club through its darkest on-field period.

North Melbourne is on a similar losing streak, and it represents West Coast's best chance to win again this year and possibly avoid the wooden spoon.

With speculation still rife about the future of Simpson and chief executive Trevor Nisbett, Sunday's game is being viewed externally as something of a make-or-break moment.

But Simpson insists that's not how it's being viewed internally.

"I'm not coaching for my job this week, I'm coaching for the future," Simpson told reporters on Friday.

"I'm coaching to win. But if I was to pull out all the stops and play every player that's ready, and start players in different positions, just to try and get a win to save my job - I'm not doing that.

"Whatever we're doing now is for the future and it's the same as last week, last month, next week, next month.

"It won't change. It's a long road we're on."

Simpson started his weekly press conference by addressing reports the board held a meeting on Thursday to discuss the dire situation at the club.

The premiership coach said it simply wasn't the case, and called out media coverage he perceived as being over the top.

"The respect piece is just something I'm looking for with how we're going about this," Simpson said.

"I'm trying to be as engaging as I can (with the media). But sometimes it's a bit of a challenge when it's critiqued in a different way and the caricatures get put in the paper and that sort of stuff.

"It's not to say that I'm feeling the pinch."

Simpson reiterated his hope Tom Barrass will be a part of the club's rebuild.

Barrass, who will miss the rest of the season with a back injury, has four years remaining on his West Coast contract, but the 27-year-old is being heavily linked with a move to Sydney.

"I hope (he hasn't played his last game for the club)," Simpson said.

"He's our vice-captain. He's in that age bracket that we're probably a bit light on with.

"We've got a lot of kids coming through and a lot of veterans, so we'll get young pretty quick.

"And then the second-tier age group, you know, that 25-to-30 type player, they're really important for us."