Eagles' coach John Worsfold feels West Coast supporters are generally tolerant of his rebuilding program, but admits their patience wears thin on western derby day.

The Eagles may have made the early running against cross-town rival Fremantle, winning the first nine derbies, but the past five years have belonged to the Dockers who have won eight of the last nine local battles.

Heading into derby 32 on Sunday, Worsfold is looking to snap a losing streak Eagles' fans have endured since Round 3, 2007, when West Coast's win over the Dockers was marred by Michael Braun's use of the 'F-bomb' when accepting the Ross Glendinning medal and an on-field battle between Eagle Adam Selwood and his opponent Des Headland.

Back then, the Eagles were the reigning premiers but now, sitting last on the ladder, Worsfold knows a derby win over Fremantle may be the only form of consolation his supporters get as they contemplate a third year without finals footy.

"They (the supporters) would love the team to win a derby," said Worsfold in a joint press conference with opposite number Mark Harvey on Thursday.

"They're getting pretty angry at me for letting it go that long."

"They put a lot of weight on it, absolutely. They were doing that in 2005-06, the derbies were still the games they wanted to win, so I don't think anything's really changed there."

"Generally they're pretty polite when I'm in striking distance. But from over the fence and hidden in a sea of faces, you get some interesting comments."

"(Mainly they) understand that we've got a lot of hard work to do and it's not going to happen overnight, it's going to take another 12 months to really put it all together and see the climb up the ladder."

"(But) their patience doesn't count for derbies. That's still a game that they say, 'well, forget about all of those reasons and all that, just try and win the derby'."

Despite the supporter's opinions, Worsfold said the team's focus would not change for this week, saying the game plan remained all about applying pressure and taking risks when on the attack.

However, having already lost Adam Selwood (AC Joint) and Ashton Hams (suspension), the Eagles could be further weakened ahead of Sunday as forward Josh Kennedy and young rebounding defender Brad Sheppard are under injury clouds.

Kennedy has been named in the Eagles' side but Sheppard is vulnerable to the chop as he's been listed on an extended bench that also includes Ben McKinley, Brett Jones, Callum Wilson, Tom Swift and Patrick McGinnity, who have all come into the side.

Worsfold, though, was particularly cagey when asked what Kennedy's problem was, vaguely describing it as a 'sore spot'.

"Is he carrying an injury? That's a good question," Worsfold said.

"I don't really know. Well I do know but I don't know if I'd call it an injury. I don't know if you'd call it an ailment either."

"I think he's one of those players that I'd expect that he'll be fit to play on the weekend without any issues, he will play fully fit."

Already without gun first-year midfielder Michael Barlow, who won the Ross Glendinning medal in Round 6 earlier in the year, the Dockers' have been further weakened by the loss of Rhys Palmer to a shoulder injury and Clancee Pearce with a knee problem.

But Fremantle has been boosted by the return of David Mundy (stomach virus) and Chris Tarrant (heel), while youngsters Justin Bollenhagen and Michael Walters have been included in the side.

Walters is part of an extended bench that also features the out-of-form Paul Hasleby, who could get the chop despite being a regular winner of the Ross Glendinning medal.