West Coast midfielder Daniel Kerr will make his return in Saturday’s AFL pre-season clash with Port Adelaide in Mandurah, but the Eagles have resisted the temptation to bring back a host of their other big guns.
Kerr, who underwent finger surgery at the end of last season, is scheduled to play two-and-a-half quarters against the Power, while tagger Scott Selwood and defender Will Schofield will also make their first appearance of 2012.
But forward Josh Kennedy, ruckman Nic Naitanui, midfielder Andrew Embley, vice-captain Beau Waters and defenders Mitch Brown, Adam Selwood and Sam Butler will have to wait at least another week before making their return.
The Power will also be missing a host of key players, with former Eagle Brad Ebert, David Rodan, Jay Schulz, Jacob Surjan, Danyle Pearce and skipper Domenic Cassisi not named.
West Coast, who posted victories over Essendon and Fremantle in round one of the NAB Cup, are favourites to win the pre-season competition given their hot early form and a favourable home draw.
But Worsfold said his focus was squarely on getting the team prepared for the season proper, as well as developing the club’s younger players.
“This is an opportunity they look forward to,” Worsfold said on Thursday.
“They get to wear an Eagles guernsey and play with the guys they train with all the time and play at a higher intensity.
“So it’s a great opportunity (teaching) and developing our real young players even if they’re not ready for senior selection in round one.
“It’s brilliant for them to get some games under their belt at this level.”
Port Adelaide beat Carlton in round one but lost a one-point thriller to Adelaide.
Meanwhile, Worsfold said Geelong’s famed resting policy, which helped the Cats win the flag last year, is something the Eagles would implement to a lesser extent this season.
“It’s something that we’ll consider, but a lot of the time that takes care of itself with your bye week or players with injuries,” Worsfold said.
“It’s too hard to plan this far out, because you plan that someone might need a light week in round 18 but they get injured in round 13 and miss two weeks.
“We’ll just manage it as we go, but there won’t be a heavy resting policy.”
