STAR West Coast ruckman Dean Cox will play for the first time since July last year in Saturday night's NAB Cup quarter-final against Port Adelaide at Subiaco Oval.
Cox, who was restricted to just 13 matches in 2009 due to a serious groin problem, was given the green light by Eagles coach John Worsfold on Wednesday.
"Coxy is ready to go, so I expect we will get him up and going this week," Worsfold said.
"It is exciting for him, he is really keen to get back into it. But he won't play a full game."
"Possibly as a substitute, or possibly through four quarters but with limited game time. And he will do some ruckwork for sure."
Worsfold said rugged utility Beau Waters was in the mix for selection after 18 months on the sidelines with a serious elbow injury but the fact that it is expected to top 40 degrees in Perth on Saturday may count against him.
Midfielders Andrew Embley and Matt Priddis are expected to be rested for the clash against the Power while Quinten Lynch is a doubtful starter as his partner is due to give birth to their first child sometime this week.
WEST COAST is through to the second round of the NAB Cup after recording a 35-point win over Essendon at Subiaco Oval on Friday night.
The Eagles set up the win with a dominant third term before eventually prevailing 1.17.8 (117) to 0.12.10 (82).
It was West Coast’s first victory in the pre-season competition since 2005.
Nic Naitanui ehanced his reputation as a genuine star in the making with 18 possessions, 21 hit-outs, seven clearances and four goals while Josh Kennedy and Mark LeCras chimed in with three majors apiece.
Chris Masten and Matt Priddis were busy contributors with 24 disposals each while Brad Sheppard and Luke Shuey showed some promising signs on debut.
For the Bombers, skipper Jobe Watson racked up a game-high 32 touches, Mark McVeigh and Brent Prismall battled hard while former Hawk Mark Williams booted three goals in his first match for the club.
The Eagles jumped out of the blocks with Kennedy and Ashley Hansen kicking goals in the opening two minutes before the Bombers clicked into top gear.
They moved the football quickly through the middle of the ground as they slammed on seven of the next eight majors with Jason Winderlich and Angus Monfries chipping in with two apiece to help the Dons to a 25-point lead at quarter-time.
Back-to-back majors from Williams saw Essendon open up a 30-point break early in the second term.
It appeared as if the Bombers would run away with the contest but Naitanui sparked his teammates into action with his work around the ground.
The Eagles were swifter in their movement of the football and responded with four unanswered goals, including a brilliant snap from Naitanui from an acute angle at the 22-minute mark to reduce the deficit to less than one straight kick.
West Coast thought they had regained the lead when Andrew Embley soccered one home in the dying seconds of the first half but the goal was cancelled after replays showed the ball had hit the post before the 2006 Norm Smith Medallist had got a boot to it.
Hansen’s second early in the third quarter gave the Eagles the back lead for the first time before Naitanui booted a super goal to give his side a 10-point buffer.
It was all one-way traffic from that moment as West Coast added a further five goals with LeCras chiming in with two as the margin blew out to 41 points at three-quarter time.
Majors from Kennedy and Naitanui made it 13 unanswered goals for the Eagles before the Bombers kicked the last three goals of the match to add some respectability to the scoreboard.
WEST COAST: 0.3.0, 0.8.5, 1.14.8, 1.16.12 (117)
ESSENDON: 0.7.1, 0.9.3, 0.9.6, 0.12.10 (82)
SUPER GOALS: WEST COAST: Naitanui
ESSENDON:
GOALS: WEST COAST: LeCras 3, Kennedy 3, Naitanui 3, Hansen 2, Rosa, Embley, Masten, Schofield, Nicoski
ESSENDON: Williams 3, Monfries 2, Winderlich 2, Jetta 2, Still, Reimers, Zaharakis
BEST: WEST COAST: Naitanui, Masten, Kennedy, Lecras, Priddis
ESSENDON: Watson, McVeigh, Prismall, Winderlich
INJURIES: WEST COAST: Nil
ESSENDON: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Michael Vozzo (2), Matt Stevic (9), Troy Pannell (28)
CROWD 23,860 at Subiaco Oval