West Coast champion Dean Cox is set to announce he will retire from AFL ranks at the end of the season.

Cox has played a club-record 286 games during his glittering 14-year career, but his expected retirement will pave the way for the Eagles to re-sign ruckman Scott Lycett.

Dean Cox. Credit:Getty Images

Lycett is being hotly pursued by Port Adelaide, but the Eagles want the 21-year-old to remain at West Coast for the long term to support Nic Naitanui.

Cox's retirement will mean he will finish just short of the magical 300-game mark.