Champion West Coast forward Josh Kennedy looks certain to return from injury for a classic showdown with rising glamour side Melbourne in Perth on Saturday.
Kennedy apparently wanted to play in the Eagles impressive home win over Geelong last Thursday.
But the big scoring ace was overruled by medical staff despite his desperate battle to prove fit from a strained right calf.
Kennedy is tipped to play in a potential blockbuster with a red-hot Demons after they climbed back into the top eight on Sunday with a powerhouse demolition of reigning premiers Western Bulldogs by a whopping 57 points.
The reigning Coleman medallist and imposing sharp-shooter shapes as the only addition at West Coast who lose emerging young defender Jackson Nelson through a hamstring injury he suffered in the second term against the Cats.
Injury prone ruckman Scott Lycett turned in a far from impressive outing at Eagles alignment outfit East Perth in his bid to press for a recall, as well as possible sweeping defender Sharrod Wellingham who is on the comeback trail from an ankle injury.
Rising young running back Tome Cole is likely to hold his spot to confront the aggressive Demons and shapes as a likely candidate to take on livewire small forward Jeff Garlett.
Midfield candidates Chris Masten and Jack Redden were among East Perth's top contributors in a loss to local league trendsetters Subiaco but could spend more time in the reserves on the back of a powerful win from West Coast over the Cats.
Kennedy, 29, will be resuming after a full month in recovery from a slight tear low in his call that was initially feared could have been a damaged Achilles tendon.
He will stake claims with a return to training this week after sitting out match assimilation sessions ahead of the Cats showdown in his rehabilitation.
Melbourne must assess soft tissue complaints to tough on-baller Nathan Jones and versatile big man Jack Watts.
Jones was nursing a thigh strain and Watts a hamstring soreness from their impressive outings in their side's win over the Bulldogs.
Powerhouse Demons ruckman Max Gawn returns to confront in-form Eagles import Nathan Vardy and veteran Drew Petrie.
Gawn, 25, has not played since he badly damaged his hamstring in the Demons round three loss to the Cats.
