Top West Coast draftee Bo Allan is a chance to make his long-awaited debut, named on an extended bench for the Eagles’ tough assignment of Brisbane at the Gabba on Sunday.

It comes as the Eagles welcome back forward Liam Ryan, who missed the season-opener against Gold Coast with a hamstring injury.

Allan was on track to take on the Suns before illness the weekend before ruled him out, with the club taking a cautious approach with the defender.

The 19-year-old is one of five potential inclusions alongside Ryan, speedster Jack Petruccelle, wingman Harvey Johnston and ruck-forward Bailey Williams.

West Coast have named co-captain Liam Duggan despite injuring his left ankle in the 87-point thrashing at the hands of the Suns, but have lost last year’s leading goalkicker Jake Waterman (back and calf) and forward-turned-midfielder Jack Hutchinson.

Asked about Allan’s hopes of taking on the Lions, Eagles coach Andrew McQualter praised the pick No.16 from last year but stopped short of confirming he would run out on Sunday.

“He played about three quarters of WAFL footy ... he’s had a really strong pre-season,” he said.

Ryan’s return will help the Eagles’ forward structure in the absence of Waterman, with second-gamer Archer Reid likely to partner co-captain Oscar Allen in attack.

“He (Ryan) was really close last week to playing,” McQualter said.

“So we made a decision with a little bit of Liam’s history in mind to not play him. We’re confident, he will have to get through training today but he’s in a good spot and can’t wait to have him out there.”

McQualter had hoped on Monday that Waterman would be able to play but 24 hours later he was ruled out for at least a fortnight.

“We subbed him out of the game on the weekend with all intentions of him to play the following week,” McQualter said.

“Following scans have shown that the pain is coming from his back, not his calf, so we’re going to take some precautions and see how that settles.

“We had a scan last week on his calf and that was clear, he did all the preparation in terms of playing even in the game it was my choice to sub him out, he was going OK I just thought where the game was out it was take the risk out of it. Everything is easy in hindsight but we’re confident we have the right decision making process last week.”

Meanwhile, the Eagles are set to stick with Matt Flynn (13 hit-outs) in the ruck despite being comprehensively beaten in the hit-outs by Jarrod Witts (68).

Flynn was named as the starting ruck, but the Eagles could bring in Williams to back him up and player Archer Reid as solely as a forward.

Asked about his ruck situation McQualter said it would change weekly depending on what was best combination to take on the opposition.

“Jarrod Witts is probably the best ruckman in the competition in terms of hit-outs and hit-outs to advantage. I think he’s world class. He won that battle last week, that’s cool, that’s footy,” he said.

“Every week we’ll have a competition with our rucks, I’m hoping, and that’s a good thing for us to have.

“The answer won’t be the same every week, it will be form dependent, it’ll be opposition dependent and it might be who can play a little bit forward as well so we’ll keep working our way through that.”

Brisbane have dropped premiership ruckman Darcy Fort, with former Gold Coast forward Sam Day named in the forward pocket and will likely back up Oscar McInerney in the middle.

Defender Brandon Starcevich (concussion) and forward Kai Lohmann (ankle) are out with injury, with WA product Deven Robertson one of six potential inclusions.

WEST COAST SQUAD

B: B Hough H Edwards T Cole

HB: R Ginbey J McGovern L Baker

C: J Hunt H Reid J Graham

HF: N Long A Reid M Owies

F: L Ryan O Allen J Cripps

FOLL: M Flynn L Duggan T Kelly

I/C: E Hewett T Brockman J Petruccelle R Maric H Johnson B Allan B Williams T Dewar

In: L Ryan J Petruccelle H Johnston B Allan B Williams

Out: J Waterman J Hutchinson (Injured)

BRISBANE LIONS SQUAD

B: D Zorko J Payne R Lester

HB: N Answerth H Andrews D Wilmot

C: J Fletcher H McCluggage J Berry

HF: W Ashcroft E Hipwood Z Bailey

F: C Raynor L Morris S Day

FOLL: O McInerney J Dunkley L Neale

I/C: D Robertson C Ah Chee L Ashcroft H Smith C McKenna W McLachlan B Reville D Joyce

In: S Day D Robertson H Smith W McLachlan B Reville D Joyce

Out: B Starcevich K Lohmann (Injured) D Fort (Omitted)