But the hard-edged Dockers boss has not ruled out a Western Derby call-up for veteran midfielder Danyle Pearce as a replacement for injured winger Stephen Hill despite a recent Dockers resurgence this month with an injection of exciting youth.

West Coast is still waiting on fitness assessments with star on-baller Sam Mitchell with his persistent ankle problem.

Mitchell, 34, remains extremely unlikely to recover in time to play his first emotion-charged derby.

The influential play-maker appears more likely to return for a crucial succession of Eagles engagements with a red-hot Port Adelaide in Adelaide on Saturday-week and then reigning premiers Western Bulldogs in Perth in Friday night footy to launch round eight.

The Eagles must find replacements for gritty small forward Jamie Cripps and emerging defender Jackson Nelson.

Cripps, 25, suffered a break in his left ankle late into Sunday's 50-point drubbing from Hawthorn in Melbourne, while Nelson has a fractured wrist out of the Hawks buffeting.

Neale emerged from the Dockers' stirring five-point win over North Melbourne on Saturday with swelling in his right knee.

The reigning Dockers fairest-and-best had scans on Sunday and was cleared by medical staff to resume training in time to take his place against West Coast.

Lyon initially feared more serious damage to his big possession-winning on-baller.

"He had a scan. It was precautionary," Lyon told Channel Seven news on Tuesday.

"We actually thought it was a low-grade medial.

"But it turned out just some inflammation within the joint and some cortisone settled that down straight away.

"He'll train Thursday and play."

Lyon declared the out-of-favour Pearce as a candidate to replace the line-breaking Hill, who will miss the next month with a hamstring injury.

Pearce, 31, was dumped as a casualty in Fremantle's horror start to the season with successive thrashings from Geelong and Port to start the 2017 home-and-away season.

Utility Cam Sutcliffe and emerging first-season talent Harley Balic, 20, are also in line for recall in Hill's place through midfield.

Lyon confirmed Pearce a chance for recall despite the 250-game veteran spending the last three weekends as emergency as the Dockers have strung together gutsy wins over the Bulldogs, Melbourne at the MCG and North.

All three victories are especially highlighted with a daring Dockers running game and coming from behind late into each engagement.

If Pearce wins a reprieve for the 45th derby conflict the nippy midfielder will be recalled on training claims as he served his exile after his 39 disposals in the Dockers seven-goal loss to Geelong and 89-point thumping from Port.

He has no form line from outings with Dockers alignment unit Peel Thunder.

"There's a lot of grey in life, so there's a bit of grey in this one," Lyon said.

"We like to select on merits and not on birth certificate.

"We'll sit down as a group on Thursday and finalise the team."