Developing big man Bailey Williams and experienced utility player Brendon Ah Chee will each play their first games of the season when the West Coast Eagles play Hawthorn at the MCG tomorrow.

They come into the team to replace half-back Liam Duggan (knee) and ruckman-forward Nathan Vardy (foot) as the Eagles prepare to take a youthful team into battle against a respected foe.

The absence of Vardy and Duggan means that only six members of the club’s 2018 premiership team will play against the Hawks – defender Tom Cole, midfielders Dom Sheed and Jack Redden and forwards Josh Kennedy, Jamie Cripps and Jack Darling.

There remains a number of others on the senior list – but 11 are unavailable, meaning that six men standing are the only representatives who were at the same venue on that famed day three years ago.

Kennedy will again captain the team in the absence of Luke Shuey and Jeremy McGovern and he will be keen to direct his young teammates.

Defender Luke Foley and utility player Luke Edwards both travelled to Melbourne, but both were listed as emergencies.

Ah Chee played a career-best 16 games for the Eagles last year – including the elimination final against Collingwood at Optus Stadium -  but has had to contend with a couple of injuries in the first third of the season.

Williams made his debut last season, playing three games, but also had a pre-season hiccup with an ankle injury but was worked his way into the team through the WAFL.