Darcy Moore will not play in the VFL this weekend, making it extremely difficult for the key defender to prove his fitness to play in the qualifying final against West Coast in Perth.

Moore is not yet ready to return to playing and will not be fit to play in the VFL final.

Fellow defender Jeremy Howe is likely to be fit and free to join the VFL team but the club will decide later in the week whether they bring him back in through the VFL or hold him out, do hard training sessions and then play him in the first final.

Howe is almost certain to play against West Coast regardless of whether he plays in the VFL final on Sunday.