West Coast has lost experienced midfielders Michael Braun and Chad Fletcher for Friday night's clash against Essendon at Telstra Dome - placing further strain on the club's already depleted on-ball division.
But in a rare piece of good news this season for the struggling Eagles, star goalsneak Mark LeCras will play his first game since round one against Brisbane following a groin injury.
The Eagles have also brought back talented youngster Brad Ebert but key forwards Ash Hansen (corked buttocks) and Ben McKinley (shoulder) were again ruled out.
However it is the loss of Braun and Fletcher, who between them have played nearly 400 AFL games, which will place further pressure on a midfield already struggling to cope with the loss of Ben Cousins and Chris Judd.
Braun has played all 11 games this season and is averaging 19 disposals while Fletcher has averaged 24 disposals from his nine games this season.
The pair did not even make the trip to Melbourne as the Eagles' trained in windy conditions at the Junction Oval on Thursday - ahead of Friday night's clash at Telstra Dome.
"Chad Fletcher's form has been great and Michael Braun's has picked up over the last couple of weeks and body wise if they were 100 percent to go, they would be here but their bodies are just a little bit off," Eagles' assistant coach Peter Sumich said of the key pair on Thursday.
Sumich said he expected both to resume against Geelong next week at Subiaco.
"Brauny has got a sore knee and we had it (a rest) really pencilled in for this game so he will be back next week."
"We just felt with him backing up in six days, we thought we would rest him and Chad Fletcher has had a back problem."
"Earlier in the year it came good but he has just stiffened up a bit now and we thought what with the plane trip (to Melbourne), we would rest him so he will be right for Geelong."
But Sumich said the team was delighted to welcome back LeCras, who kicked 36 goals last year to be the team's second leading goalkicker behind Quinten Lynch.
Sumich is hoping LeCras' return will give the Eagles some much-needed added firepower with the team averaging only 77 points per game this year - above only last-placed Melbourne - while only McKinley, Lynch and veteran David Wirrpanda have kicked more than ten goals so far this season.
"He has been a terrific player, he kicked nearly 40 goals last year and for him to go out after round one was disappointing but he is back and ready to go, which is great," Sumich said of LeCras.
"I think it (the Eagles' failure to kick high scores) has had a lot to do with different personnel rotating through there (the forward line) and we just haven't been settled down there."
However while the Eagles are set to field one of their most inexperienced midfield line-up ever on Friday night - with the exceptions of Dean Cox and Daniel Kerr - Sumich is confident the team will acquit itself well against an equally inexperienced and struggling Essendon line-up with both teams only having two wins from 11 rounds this season.
"Just seeing the young kids today on this away trip, they have been great and they seem to bonding together now and if we can get that over the next couple of months it will put us in good stead."