Halting momentum when opponents get a run on will be a key focus for Adam Simpson and his coaching team as West Coast turns its attention to rebounding strongly in Sunday’s RAC Derby.

A pattern has emerged following two painful defeats on the road in recent weeks, with the Eagles conceding runs of eight and 13 unanswered goals to St Kilda and Geelong, respectively.

While Saturday's 97-point thrashing from the Cats was bitterly disappointing, the Eagles will drill down into the lacklustre effort and have the opportunity to bounce back against Fremantle at Optus Stadium in six days’ time.

“You’re always looking at what happened, how you can get better,” Simpson told 3AW on Monday.

"We got to quarter-time (against Geelong) a goal up, right in the contest, so it’s happened twice this year where we’ve been in really good positions to have a good game and we haven’t halted momentum.

“As much as it was very painful on the weekend, we were lacking a few leaders. It was a great opportunity for growth in that space and they’ll learn from what happened on the weekend, our younger players who perhaps missed an opportunity.

“We’ve got to look at how we can get better at it, but we’ll definitely look at it. The St Kilda game was disappointing for us as well.

“Arresting momentum is something we’ve been OK at over the years.

"Two times this year where it hasn’t been good enough, so we’ll work on that from a coaching point-of-view and we’ll look to keep growing from a leadership point-of-view while we’re missing a few senior players.”

The Eagles are hopeful of regaining champion bookends Shannon Hurn (calf) and Josh Kennedy (ankle) for the 52^nd clash with Fremantle as the club eyes an 11^th-straight victory over its crosstown rivals.

Jeremy McGovern’s prognosis is unclear with scan results pending on his groin injury, while gun trio Luke Shuey (hamstring), Elliot Yeo (groin) and Liam Ryan (leg) are sidelined for lengthy periods.

“I don’t think we’re alone, I think lots of clubs are going through it,” Simpson said of the injury toll. “But we probably haven’t had this run for a while.

“Obviously McGovern going out during the game, Hurn, Kennedy, Yeo and Shuey and Ryan could help us.

“But I also think, and that’s why we were disappointed on the weekend, you don’t have to win every game but if you can have a semblance of your system, approach and commitment to playing at your best then you can keep moving forward.

“Win, lose or draw that’s what we’re looking for and it’s a great chance this week against Freo in a derby.”