West Coast skipper Luke Shuey will be tested at main training ahead of round one team selection, however tough nut Connor West will not be available to face Gold Coast due to his own hamstring strain.
Shuey completed a solid session at Optus Stadium last Friday in his build back from his soft-tissue setback and the dynamic onballer joined in skills work at Mineral Resources Park on Tuesday as he pushes to face the Suns.
“Luke did the full session on Friday. We’ve got main training Thursday and then we’ll reassess with the coaches where he’s at for later in the week,” Head of Health Mark Finucane said.
Continuing the club’s bad run of injury luck there were casualties from last Friday’s training, with West and recent recruit Tom Joyce (ankle) set for short stints on the sidelines.
“Connor unfortunately sustained a minor hamstring strain. Looks like missing the next two weeks as per a standard hamstring,” Finucane said.
“Tom got his foot caught up in a tackle, so (in a) moon boot early stage but it looks like a minor-to-moderate ankle.”
Midfield bull Elliot Yeo is progressing towards returning to training with the group after completing straight-line running work on Tuesday, with key forward Oscar Allen and Liam Duggan also making progress.
Allen is out of his moon boot to protect a stress-related foot injury and did some kicking, while Duggan is back with the main training group and close to playing game minutes after a knee operation last year.
“Liam has gone really well with his build off what is quite a big operation and he is on track for some minutes next week,” Finucane said.
“Oscar has started his prep to run with some stairs (walking) and he’ll start on the Alter-G later this week.
“Elliot has done some straight-line conditioning running. We’ll do some speed later in the week and then go into some football conditioning through next week.”
There were more promising signs on the track during open training, with Jack Darling (foot) and Luke Edwards (groin) involved while Jamie Cripps (pectoral) and Greg Clark (shoulder) are back running following surgery.
“Jack has had a minor foot complaint in the last couple of weeks. So we’re just getting a gauge of that now he’s back in the fold,” Finucane said.
“We’ll keep him controlled over this and next week and then get a gauge of his conditioning from there.
“Greg and Jamie with their upper limb surgeries they’ve been able to start running earlier than initially anticipated, so good for them that they’re able to keep their running up.
“Luke has had a graduated build over the pre-season with his groin and we’re looking at some game minutes next week.”
Injury list:
Oscar Allen Foot 4-5 weeks
Campbell Chesser Ankle Inactive
Greg Clark Shoulder 6-7 weeks
Tom Cole Ankle Inactive
Jamie Cripps Pectoral 6-7 weeks
Jack Darling Foot TBC
Liam Duggan Knee 1-2 weeks
Luke Edwards Groin 1 week
Tom Joyce Ankle 4-5 weeks
Dom Sheed Ankle 8 weeks
Luke Shuey Hamstring Test
Zane Trew Shin 5-6 weeks
Connor West Hamstring 2 weeks
Elliot Yeo Calf 2-3 weeks
