Emerging midfielders Jai Culley and Campbell Chesser are among four inclusions to take on St Kilda, as star Elliot Yeo is forced out of the line-up due to soreness.

Yeo’s absence from the flight east followed confirmation earlier on Thursday that leading goalkicker Jake Waterman (knee) would join co-captain Liam Duggan (concussion) and recruit Tyler Brockman (ankle) on the sidelines.

Speedy forward-mid Jack Petruccelle is back after a three-game absence due to a hamstring strain, with versatile defender Josh Rotham also called in by match committee.

West Coast’s four inclusions have been named on the bench alongside Jamaine Jones for the 1.45pm local (11.45am WA) battle at Marvel Stadium on Saturday. 

It will be Culley’s second AFL appearance for the season, coming off an impressive 21-disposal, two-goal effort for the WAFL Eagles in last round’s win over West Perth.

The Eagles have left Waterman out in a bid to settle his iliotibial band soreness near his knee after playing through the issue recently.

“He’ll have a week off. He’s been managing an ITB issue so we think that having the week off is the right thing for him,” interim coach Jarrad Schofield said on Thursday. 

Waterman’s absence will see a reshuffle of the forward line, with West Coast’s past two mid-season rookie draftees Ryan Maric and Jack Hutchinson flanking spearhead Oscar Allen in the forward line, with Jack and Bailey Williams to offer aerial support.

Following his three-goal performance for the WAFL Eagles, key forward draftee Archer Reid has travelled east as an emergency along with experienced midfielder Dom Sheed.

“We’re coming off a six-day break and we’ve got some banged up boys,” Schofield said. “But at the end of the day if (Reid) doesn’t play it will be a great experience for him travelling with the group.”