WEST Coast is in danger of having only one fit ruckman for round one, with injury-plagued Nathan Vardy suffering another setback and star Nic Naitanui appearing increasingly doubtful to face Sydney.

Vardy will have scans after collapsing after a ruck contest in the fourth quarter of Sunday's scratch match against Fremantle at Lathlain Park.

The former Geelong big man, who overcame his body battles last year and played 22 matches, was helped from the ground in obvious pain.

"He's tweaked his groin a bit and it doesn't look great at the moment," midfield and stoppage coach Nathan van Berlo said.

"It's pretty unfortunate for Nathan to go down in the last quarter.

"He's pretty sore at the moment."

Naitanui was aiming for a comeback from his knee reconstruction in next Sunday's JLT Community Series clash with the Dockers.

But van Berlo declared the spring-heeled star is "unlikely" to appear at Joondalup, leaving him with no AFL-level match minutes ahead of the season-opening blockbuster against Sydney.

"Nic is building. He's probably unlikely to play next week, but he had a really good hit-out yesterday with the boys and moved really well," van Berlo said.

"Provided he keeps pulling up well then he's progressing as we hoped for.

"We have to wait and see how he goes in prep for round one, but we've got to have a holistic picture in preparing him to play a season of footy.

"That's the same with the rest of our group, but particularly Nic."

More responsibility is set to fall on Scott Lycett coming back from a year ruined by shoulder issues.

The 25-year-old competed strongly against Dockers giant Aaron Sandilands and protégé Sean Darcy on Sunday and recently declared he was primed for a big impact in 2018.

"Scotty's had a fantastic summer, he hasn't missed a beat at training which his great for him off his disrupted season last year," van Berlo said.



"He's going to be happy to have more ruck minutes if Nathan isn't available in the weeks to come and depending what happens with Nic."

Workhorse big man Fraser McInnes – also singled-out for praise by van Berlo – shapes as a potential back-up if the Eagles are without Naitanui and Vardy.

McInnes could also help fill the gaping hole that could be left if spearhead Josh Kennedy (ankle) isn't available to face the Swans.

Jake Waterman (two goals) is another option and pushed his case for a debut on Sunday.

The father-son product impressed with his competitiveness playing deep in attack, while top draftee Jarrod Brander (one) also showed promise in his first appearance.

"He (Waterman) fights to the death, he chases hard and tackles hard," van Berlo said.

"If Josh isn't available then we've got a number of guys – not just Misty Waterman – to put his hand up for the group."