West Coast coach Adam Simpson is keen to keep GWS on edge for as long as possible, refusing to declare whether star ruckman Nic Naitanui will make his AFL return this weekend.

Naitanui hasn’t played since undergoing a knee reconstruction a year ago, but he’s a slim chance to be selected for Saturday night’s semi-final against GWS at Spotless Stadium.

Simpson says Naitanui has been training well.

But the fourth-year coach kept his cards close to his chest when asked whether the 2012 All-Australian would play this weekend.

“I can’t talk selection, as you know,” Simpson said.

“It’s just too tight of a season to be talking about selection before we do it.

“I don’t want to go through all this. You can keep asking and trying to allude to what he’s doing, but you’ll just have to wait and see.

“He’ll fly at some stage. Whether he flies today or not will be up for debate. I can’t tell you.

“He’s training really well. While we keep advancing, he’s getting closer and closer.”

West Coast’s makeshift ruck duo of Nathan Vardy and Drew Petrie excelled in last week’s win over Port Adelaide, with the pair nullifying the influence of All-Australian Paddy Ryder.

Their task this week was made easier when GWS ruckman Shane Mumford was ruled out for the rest of the year with a foot injury.

The Giants will also be without star forward Jeremy Cameron (hamstring) for the rest of their finals campaign.

GWS are one of the competition’s best running sides, and West Coast will enter the match off the back of a second-straight travelling week.

They also had to play an additional 10 minutes in last week’s extra-time win over Port.

But Simpson is confident his troops will be up for the fight, despite their underdog status.

“The feeling I’ve got is our players are up for it. We’re going to give it a crack,” Simpson said.