West Coast forward Josh Kennedy will miss another week with his ongoing shin injury, but Jack Darling is set to recover from concussion in time to face Brisbane at the Gabba this Sunday.
Kennedy has missed the past four AFL games with a hairline fracture in his right shin, and he won't return until week one of the finals.
Given there is a bye before the finals, Kennedy will have missed seven weeks of action before lining up for the Eagles again.
The 30-year-old missed three games earlier this season with a separate hairline fracture higher up on the right leg.
"I've done a lot of campaigning today, and it hasn't got me too far," Simpson told channel 7 of his bid to convince the club's medical staff to let Kennedy play.
"So I think we'll miss Josh this week, he won't play."
But there is better news on Darling, who lasted just 10 minutes in last week's loss to Melbourne before being concussed in a heavy tackle.
"Jack was walking and was fine," Simpson said.
"He got some minor concussion and we didn't take the risk in the game.
"He seems to be OK. But until we do the testing later in the week, we won't really know. But at the moment we're thinking Josh won't play, and Jack will."
The Eagles will secure second spot and two home finals if they can beat Brisbane at the Gabba.
But Simpson said it wasn't a make-or-break game for the club, given the Eagles will finish fourth at worst.
"Top two is up for grabs, that would be great to get two home finals," Simpson said.
"We're going full bore at it. But I don't think it's season on the line type of stuff."
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