Patersons Stadium
Sunday September 9, 1.15pm WST/3.15pm EST
STAR West Coast goalkicker Josh Kennedy and key defender Eric Mackenzie are both expected to be available for Sunday's elimination final against North Melbourne at Patersons Stadium, despite injury concerns.
Kennedy suffered an ankle scare in last Friday night's loss to Hawthorn at the MCG, but scans cleared the key forward of injury and he is confident he will prove his fitness this week.
Mackenzie, meanwhile, was backed to play by coach John Worsfold after missing the final round of the home-and-away season with a minor hamstring injury.
Worsfold said Kennedy would have a modified training program early this week with a view to completing the main session on Thursday.
"That's the one where we'll assess him on how he's going," Worsfold said on Monday.
"It's going to be just really how he feels. Obviously he tweaked his ankle a bit but he went back on the field and we expect that he'll be right to go.
"He told me he had [the scans] and was feeling really confident."
Kennedy was held goalless against the Hawks and kicked one goal against Collingwood a week earlier in his return from a serious ankle injury.
Worsfold said the Eagles were happy with the way he was contributing after more than three months sidelined.
"We've seen him competing against three defenders and bringing the ball to ground and other guys have kicked goals," Worsfold said.
"Not many people would put that down to Josh's effort but we certainly do.
"He draws defenders to him to try and spoil, which gives all our other players more opportunity ... he's been pretty solid."
Worsfold said the Eagles needed to get more value out of their forward entries after booting 10 goals from 51 inside 50s against the Hawks.
He said Quinten Lynch, who was dropped ahead of the Collingwood clash in round 22, was a chance to return against the Kangaroos.
"His attitude has been outstanding … very professional," Worsfold said.
"He's supported the boys and worked on getting a really good hit out on the weekend for West Perth and being available for us this week."
Champion ruckman Dean Cox will play his 250th game on Sunday and Worsfold said the premiership big man was "in the echelon of great players at this football club now".
He said the 31-year-old, who is contracted until the end of the 2013 season, was a strong chance to become the first WA-based player to reach 300 games.
"He's still got a lot of football left in him," Worsfold said.
"What he has achieved to date is just about the equal of anyone at the club … he's right up there with the best we've had.
"We've seen ruckmen go on to 33, 34 years of age, so there will be opportunity to play on for another two or three years."
Cox said he hadn't thought about the prospect of playing on beyond his current contract but he wouldn't continue just to notch up games.
"If the body can withstand another season and pull up really well, then I think I’ll still have the hunger and desire to continue to play," the five-time All Australian said.
"If I can have an impact on the ground, then I’ll continue to do it, otherwise I’ll finish.
"This week’s all about finals though. It’s all about trying to make sure this playing group progresses through this weekend."
