Premiership hero Dom Sheed has declared he is prepared to do whatever it takes to stay in West Coast’s best 22 and has accepted Andrew Gaff’s return means he must give up midfield time.

The Eagles trained under lights at Optus Stadium last night as they prepare to tackle Port Adelaide on Friday night, with speedy defender Lewis Jetta expected to press his case for a recall after a minor hamstring complaint.

Sheed is coming off his lowest disposal tally since round 19 last year, just before Gaff’s eight-week ban for striking Fremantle’s Andrew Gaff. Sheed averaged close to 30 possessions a match with Gaff out of the team, including 32 in the grand final win over Collingwood, but fell back to 17 in Saturday night’s scrappy 13-point win over Fremantle.

The 24-year-old managed to have a far bigger impact in the same role in Gaff’s comeback a week earlier with 24 possessions and three goals in another victory against the Magpies at the MCG.

Camera Icon Sheed says Gaff’s return has meant a change in his role. Credit: Daniel Carson / AFL Photos

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He admits his role in 2019 is still a work in progress.

“Gaffy back in the team has probably made me play a bit more half-forward,” Sheed said.

“Gaffy is an elite midfielder so we want to get him in the guts as much as we can. It’s my role in the team and I’ve got to find a way to get as much midfield time as I can while having an impact at half-forward.

“For probably a lot of last year we were playing one less midfielder and this year we’re playing one more midfielder, so that essentially means someone needs to spend a bit more time at half-forward and that’s going to be my role.

“I’m not always going to get rewarded with goals like I did against Collingwood, but if I can go down there and comply with the forward structures and be dangerous then I think we’re happy.

“Simmo (Adam Simpson) and I have had a few conversations about it and the conversations probably started at the start of pre-season, so we expected this to happen and now it’s here we’re ready for it and we’re prepared.

Camera Icon Speedy defender Lewis Jetta is expected to press his case for a recall after a minor hamstring complaint. Credit: Nic Ellis / The West Australian

“It’s going to take time to work through it, but I have no doubt we can. I’d like to push into the midfield a bit more (in the future), but this year what-ever it takes to be in the best 22, I’m happy to do.”

Sheed said the third-placed Eagles were still finding their groove but believed they would have to be at their best to topple the Power.

“Whoever rocks up with the right mentality and plays the brand of footy they want to play will come out on top,” he said.