The West Coast Eagles will make at least three changes to the team for the Gather Round clash with Geelong in Adelaide on Sunday – with only one of them locked in at this stage.

Experienced defender Alex Witherden resumes after missing the clash with Melbourne last Sunday under AFL concussion protocols. He has received medical clearance and will return immediately to replace games record holder Shannon Hurn.

Defensive linchpin Hurn, a veteran of 324 games, is being managed while fellow defender Tom Cole is sidelined by an ankle injury and emerging youngster Elijah Hewett has been dropped. Hewett will return to the WAFL to build confidence and game time after three senior matches.

The club will tomorrow confirm the other inclusions, with forward Jack Petruccelle, midfielders Xavier O’Neill and Zane Trew and defenders Harry Edwards and Luke Foley named on an extended bench.

Trew, Petruccelle and O’Neill were arguably the best Eagles at WAFL level last week in a loss to South Fremantle.

Harry Edwards could not be considered after rolling his ankle at training last week while Foley was the emergency against the Demons.

Petruccelle, the substitute, and O’Neill were casualties after the round one loss to North Melbourne. Should Trew get the nod for a recall it will be his first senior game since round 17 last year against Carlton.

After initially being de-listed ahead of last year’s draft – and then recalled via the rookie list – he has been playing as consistently as any of his teammates in the second tier.

Also on the extended interchange are young midfielder Jai Culley, utility player Connor West and defender Brady Hough – all of whom played against the Dees.