Champion Eagles ruckman Dean Cox looks increasingly likely to return from a groin injury against Melbourne at the MCG this weekend.

Cox was unavailable for West Coast's 20-point win over Hawthorn last Saturday after straining his groin against Richmond in Round 12, the injury not healing as expected over the fortnight break during the split round week.

The towering ruckman was one of a small group of players doing light training at Subiaco on Tuesday morning. Cox started out just running laps but as the session progressed, took part in several almost full-pace running and kicking drills.

Eagles coach John Worsfold will wait until later in the week to make a decision on the four-time All-Australian.

"I couldn't say (what his chances are), it might be 80-20, it might be 20-80. I don't know," Worsfold said. "We'll split it and say 50-50."

"It was a very minor strain and one that we would expect would have healed by now, (but) you're always making sure there's nothing else other than that as well."

"There's no caution taken into account. If he's fit he'll play."

West Coast travels east looking clear favourites to achieve their first away win since Round 21, 2007.

Worsfold won't be taking the struggling Demons lightly, though, especially after Melbourne produced a shock win over the Eagles in Round 20 last year, but the coach could sympathise somewhat with opposite number Dean Bailey.

"They (the Demons) have got a very clear focus - they are playing a lot of talented young players and unfortunately that means they go through times when kids lose confidence or get tired," Worsfold said.

"We are in the same sort of boat."

"In terms of our development, winning would be nice but the big picture is to build up our team to be a very talented and mature and experienced team."

"(Winning on the road) is certainly something we haven't done for a long period of time."

"So we have to be even more relentless in our preparation to go out and play with the same intensity we do at home."

"(But) we've had bad quarters at Subiaco Oval ... and they're things that we always address, whether it's home versus away."

Premiership midfielder Chad Fletcher appears unlikely to return to the Eagles' line-up despite an incredible performance for Subiaco last weekend, described by some as one of the finest individual performances of the WAFL season.

Fletcher, 29, reportedly spoke to Worsfold last week imploring to be selected for the senior side. But the coach remained adamant the club would play younger players instead of older ones as it looks to the future.

"The basic argument could be, well if Tom Swift only gets 10 touches and you know Chad Fletcher can have 25, why don't you play him?" Worsfold said.

"But Tom Swift is getting less ground time and playing different roles, and we're happy with what he's doing and we think he's living up to our expectations."

"So therefore he stays in the side."

Adam Hunter will miss again this week with his shoulder injury but Mark Nicoski (back) is a chance to return.