West Coast coach Adam Simpson is confident Jack Darling will play in Sunday's crunch match against Brisbane, and he's urging his players to go "full bore" in their bid to lock up second spot.
Darling still needs to pass a concussion test after being knocked out in last week's loss to Melbourne, but Simpson hopes it will be a mere formality and named the 26-year-old in his extended squad.
"He trained (on Thursday) and he looked pretty symptom-free ... I think he'll play," Simpson said.
"He's just got to tick the final box."
The Eagles will again be without spearhead Josh Kennedy, who will miss his fifth straight match with a fractured shin.
Defender Lewis Jetta goes out with a calf injury, but Will Schofield was named in the extended squad after recovering from a hamstring injury.
West Coast will secure second spot and two home finals with victory over Brisbane, but a loss could see them tumble to fourth spot.
The Eagles have been slow off the mark in their past two matches, and Simpson says his side can ill afford to do the same against Brisbane.
Although the Lions have won only five games this year, they have been tricky to beat at the Gabba and are capable of scoring quickly.
"It's probably not the full (first) quarter, it's just the first 10 minutes in particular we've been jumped," Simpson said.
"And Brisbane start well, so that's a great challenge for us to get that on our terms.
"It's going to be difficult, but we're aware of it."
Simpson knows the absence of Kennedy means he needs to keep experimenting with his attacking set-up.
But that's where he wants the experimenting to end - especially with finals just around the corner.
"If we try anything it will be out of necessity, not flirting with our form," Simpson said.
"We understand what Brisbane can present, especially at home, and what we need to do to get a win.
"It's really important we go full bore this week."
