West Coast coach Adam Simpson says there's plenty left in the tank for Luke Shuey despite the skipper's latest soft tissue injury.
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Shuey is expected to miss the next two weeks after straining his right calf in last week's 42-point win over Adelaide.
The 31-year-old battled a calf problem over the summer, and has had numerous hamstring injuries over the past two seasons.
Shuey underwent surgery on his left hamstring earlier this year, and his return lasted just four games before being cut down by the calf complaint.
"It's frustrating. We're doing everything we can, and he's so diligent and professional. It's not like he's not elite," Simpson said.
"We have to keep exploring the best way to get him on the track. We think there's a lot of football left in Luke. He's still young - young enough anyway."
West Coast have been boosted by the return of Josh Kennedy for Saturday's crunch clash with St Kilda in Perth, with Xavier O'Neill, Jake Waterman, and veteran Mark Hutchings also recalled.
Shuey, Jack Petruccelle (hamstring), and Luke Edwards (hamstring) were ruled out, while ruckman Bailey Williams was dropped.
The Saints will be without ruckman Rowan Marshall (isolation), Daniel McKenzie (concussion) and Tom Highmore (hand).
Pre-season draft pick Paul Hunter has been recalled to team up with Paddy Ryder in the ruck against Nic Naitanui, while Nick Coffield and Oscar Clavarino also come into the side.
West Coast defender Jeremy McGovern will captain the Eagles this week in the absence of Shuey.
The match also doubles up as his 150-game milestone - a feat that looked a slim possibility in 2013 when McGovern was banished from the club after showing up to pre-season training overweight.
McGovern hadn't even notched a single AFL game at that time, but he worked his way back into favour and has since established himself as arguably the league's best defender.
"He had talent, probably just didn't understand what it was like to be a professional AFL player," Simpson reflected on McGovern, who has gone on to become a four-time All-Australian.
"He's really smart, so he worked out real quick what he needed to do, and a lot of it is just his work ethic.
"Early on he probably just needed some guidance. But since he's turned that around, it's been self-driven a lot. He's been special."
Seventh-placed West Coast are just a win ahead of 11th-placed St Kilda, with the stakes on Saturday high for both sides.
Australian Associated Press
