Mackenzie, 28, is set to resume his customary full-back spot after serving a two-week penance back at reserves team East Perth, to revive personal confidence in his fitness, ball-handling and get to grips with the Eagles' defensive zoning.

The 2014 Eagles fairest-and-best winner, who missed last year with a knee reconstruction, is understood to have won back faith from coach Adam Simpson with a recall now on the cards to take on Carlton on Sunday at football headquarters and home of Grand Finals.

A return from the 132-game Mackenzie is even more timely with serious doubts surrounding lead ruckman Scott Lycett's availability.

Lycett is facing a two-game ban when Match Review Panel assessments are released on Monday.

Lycett, 23, has a nervous wait following his head-high hit on North Melbourne hard-nut Jack Ziebell just off the ball after a stoppage contest deep into the first term of the Eagles 32-point win over the Roos in Perth on Sunday.

He could be charged with a careless action with his shoulder crashing into Ziebell's face as high contact and medium impact and determine an automatic two-match ban.

The Eagles' stand-in lead ruckman missed a game in April for striking Richmond big man Ty Vickery.

West Coast has successive interstate assignments on the hallowed "G" with the Blues this week and dangerous Collingwood at the end of the month.

Simpson and his advisors are expected to continue in a determined search for successful defensive systems in full dress rehearsals on the wider MCG that was so comprehensively smashed open by Hawthorn in last October's Grand Final.

Simpson's Eagles continue to be haunted by a disastrous road record with their zone defensive mechanisms especially vulnerable on the significantly wider cricket ground than their cherished narrow and long home turf in Perth.

Since a Grand Final shellacking from the mighty Hawks last year West Coast has dropped interstate engagements to Hawthorn again in round two, Sydney at the SCG, Geelong at Simonds and Western Bulldogs at Etihad inside the opening three months of this season's home-and-away campaign.

Mackenzie could be rushed back into crucial defensive duties and even marshalling the backline full-back after a failed experiment with close mate and more renowned key defender Mitch Brown as a pinch-hitting back-up ruckman for his two games back at senior level.

In successive weeks Mackenzie has been a distinct cut above WAFL level.

He held South Fremantle sharp-shooter Ben Saunders to one goal and then Swan Districts Rick Cary scoreless as well as collect confidence building intercept and contested marks with crucial accuracy in his foot disposal - clearly sending a message he's ready to resume his Eagles key defensive spot.

At the same time Brown's less-than-flattering return in a mixture of part-time forward and spasmodic tap ruckman netted 22 possessions, eight hit-outs and six marks.

Simpson is likely to turn back to third-string lead ruckman Jon Giles as star big man Nic Naitanui continues his recovery from surgery to both his Achilles tendons last month.

If Lycett is banned, as appears highly likely, Giles will confront Blues ruck battery Matthew Kreuzer and Andrew Phillips.

Giles, 28, has made just one Eagles appearance with a poor outing against Brisbane big man Stefan Martin at the Gabba last month with just 18 tap outs and only six possessions, when Lycett served an Eagles imposed suspension for breaching a late night curfew.

Simpson has constantly indicated swinging brilliant all-rounder Jeremy McGovern into ruck duties as further evolution to his blossoming career.

McGovern is one of the league's finest intercepting and powerhouse marking defenders