West Coast coach Adam Simpson has left the door slightly ajar for livewire forward Willie Rioli to make a shock AFL debut in Saturday night's elimination final against Port Adelaide.
Rioli has been plagued by hamstring issues this season, but has now played three reserve and three senior games for WAFL side East Perth since making his latest return.
Simpson said the 22-year-old was under consideration for the Power clash, but he will wait until Wednesday before making a final decision.
"Willie's in the mix. He's available," Simpson said of Rioli, who is a cousin of Hawthorn premiership star Cyril Rioli, and nephew of Hall of Famer Maurice Rioli.
"We've just got to weigh up whether he's AFL ready.
"He's missed a lot of football, ten-fifteen weeks of football. It's his first year. He's probably played one full game at East Perth.
"But having said all that, he's a player that we can't wait to see play."
Punting on Rioli would be a massive risk, but one West Coast might need to make if they are to cause some damage during the finals.
Veteran Mark LeCras has struggled for consistency this season, while fellow small forward Josh Hill is out of favour following a big dip in form.
West Coast sneaked into eighth spot on percentage after beating Adelaide by 29 points in the final game of the home and away season.
But the Eagles enter the finals series with a big point to prove after flopping in their past two play-off matches.
West Coast copped a 47-point hiding from the unfancied Bulldogs in last year's elimination final.
And Hawthorn hammered the Eagles by 46 points in the 2015 grand final.
West Coast captain Shannon Hurn is urging his team to play bravely.
"You've got to take on the game to win," Hurn said.
"If you're just going out there to participate or just try to hold up, that won't work.
"Sometimes they'll get momentum and you've got to slow it down a bit. But going out with a positive mind frame to win (is the key)."
Port Adelaide will be without suspended defender Tom Jonas for another match, while fellow backman Jack Hombsch will miss the rest of the season after undergoing hip surgery.
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