Here’s some news the Western Bulldogs won’t like to hear: star West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui is on track to ruck and roll in the round one AFL clash at Patersons Stadium.

Naitanui made his long-awaited return from a groin injury in last week’s win over Fremantle, but he was kept away from rucking duties in a bid to protect him from injury.

The 23-year-old will be handed more game time and ruck duties in Friday’s intra-club clash involving WAFL side East Perth, and coach Adam Simpson is confident his trump card will be able to handle the bash-and-crash tap duties.

Should Naitanui make it through that game unscathed, he’ll join Dean Cox in a formidable Eagles’ ruck duo for the March 23 showdown with the Bulldogs.

“We need to get a good solid hit-out out of Nic,” Simpson said at the club’s season launch on Tuesday.

“He played 40 to 50 minutes last week, and now the next step is to play a full game.”

Naitanui played just 11 matches last year as the Eagles crashed to a 13th-placed finish.

But with the 2012 All-Australian back on deck and the rest of the squad looking fit and in form, West Coast are expected to push for a spot in the top-eight.

Midfielder Dom Sheed, who was snared with pick No.11 in last year’s national draft, has done his best to push for a round one berth, while new recruits Xavier Ellis and Elliot Yeo are also good chances to be picked.

But defender Beau Waters will miss the first part of the season after enduring a nightmare summer on the injury front.

Waters’ reconstructed right shoulder became infected before Christmas, forcing surgeons to prematurely remove some pins from the area.

Only time will tell whether the shoulder has adequately healed.

The early signs are good, but Waters’ progress has since been stalled by a series of leg niggles.

Simpson hopes the premiership defender will be able to return to full training in the coming weeks, meaning Waters will probably have to find form and fitness in the WAFL before pushing for an AFL recall.

West Coast beat the Dockers twice and Sydney once during their unbeaten pre-season campaign.

Simpson, who took the reins from club great John Worsfold at the end of last season, said the winning streak had given the team vital confidence under a new coaching set-up and new game style.

“It’s important for everyone at the club to just to have a little bit of success,” Simpson said.

“But it means nothing if we don’t perform next week, and I think everyone knows that.”