The cavalry came charging over the hill a week ago, but unfortunately for the West Coast Eagles there was a casualty in the forward party.

Acting captain Jeremy McGovern succumbed to a knee injury suffered during the strong victory against Adelaide at Optus Stadium.

While more troops will arrive through the agency of former skipper Shannon Hurn and all-Australian forward Liam Ryan for this week’s important clash with GWS, McGovern has been ruled out.

The classy intercept defender resumed from an adductor strain last Sunday, with another key defensive pillar, Tom Barrass, but hurt his knee in the third quarter as an opponent fell across his leg when he was kicking the ball out of the danger zone in the third term.

The club’s medical staff is still pin-pointing the exact nature of the injury, but he will not be going to Blacktown to play a Giants team that has been building towards its best form.

The return of Hurn – and young tall defender Harry Edwards – will help off-set the loss of McGovern, but it is difficult to replace a four-time all-Australian.,

Under altered team lodgement conditions the club named its starting 18, with Edwards, Hurn and Ryan all listed in the on-field team.

Among the eight players listed on the extended bench, four of whom will make the final 22, one of whom will be the medical substitute and three who will miss the cut, are some players who have performed well in recent times.

The selection squeeze has begun with those eight players being Jake Waterman, Zac Langdon, Alex Witherden, Xavier O’Neill, Jackson Nelson, Jamaine Jones, Bailey Williams and Brendon Ah Chee.