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.

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.

If he plays all the remaining games, Cox will finish on 292 matches.

West Coast skipper Darren Glass already announced his retirement earlier this year due to hip and ankle problems.

Cox, with six All-Australians and one premiership under his belt, will be remembered as one of the greatest ruckmen the game has ever seen.