Brandon Starcevich is expected to take his first on-field steps as an Eagle this week, with West Coast coach Andrew McQualter saying he would play minutes in the WAFL.

McQualter flagged last week that the two-time premiership defender was close to making his return from a dogged calf injury, but the wait finally appears over.

After a break for the state game, which Western Australia won over rivals South Australia, WAFL action returns on Saturday with the Eagles, who are known as Waalitij Marawar during Sir Doug Nicholls Round, travelling to The Good Grocer Park to take on East Fremantle.

“Yeah, he is (set to play WAFL), which is terrific news for our fans and for Starc,” McQualter told 7NEWS on Monday night.

“So, he’s going to play some minutes in the WAFL, which will be terrific, and we can’t wait to see him pull on the West Coast jumper.”

Starcevich will be a welcome addition to the club’s defence and could still feature at senior level before the club’s bye in round 15 should he make it through the WAFL across the next fortnight.

The 26-year-old has picked up two injuries since making the move back to his home state, including a minor ACL strain, from Brisbane via trade during last year’s trade period and will hope for a change in fortunes now that he is back on the park at his new club.

McQualter also said they would assess young ruck-forward Cooper Duff-Tytler this week after the 18-year-old was rested from the side’s 17-point upset victory over Greater Western Sydney on Sunday.

“We’ll get into work tomorrow and see how Coop’s feeling,” he said.

“We gave him a chance to rest and recover his body, so we’ll look to train on Wednesday and make those decisions as to how he goes.”

Despite not featuring, Duff-Tytler was amid the celebrations on Sunday night as his young teammates ensured he wasn’t left out in the rooms after the game.