West Coast Eagles coach Adam Simpson expects to be without Andrew Gaff and Oscar Allen for the crucial clash against fellow strugglers Port Adelaide on Saturday.
The Eagles are priced at 6/1 to finish in the top eight and play finals this season but face an uphill battle following a 1-4 start to the campaign.
Duo facing fitness race
The Eagles are hopeful that key defender Jeremy McGovern will return for the clash at the Adelaide Oval, but the same cannot be said of Gaff and Allen.
Gaff has an ankle injury, Allen a foot issue, and both players will be assessed this week before a decision is made on whether they will be fit enough to return.
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"McGovern has missed a week so we'll see what happens there," Simpson told Channel Seven.
"Gaff and Allen are probably not going to be available this week. It's going to be touch and go. We'll work through that in the next few days.
"We'll transition everyone back on the individual basis that if they're fit enough, they'll play. If they're not, they won't."
Time to gel
Elliot Yeo, Tim Kelly, Luke Shuey and Jamie Cripps are all back in the side following injury but Simpson says they need time to gel.
"I think they're fit,” he added. “It's the synergy piece we need to work, I think they've only played 14 games together in their careers, so trying to get that synergy in that group is critical.
"(If) those guys play well, we go pretty close to winning. We understand the issue, we're working through it."
