West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui is confident he could get through a full game if Saturday's AFL elimination final against Collingwood goes down to the wire.
The All-Australian's game time has been carefully managed this season - his first full campaign since his second knee reconstruction - but said those plans could go "out the window" if things got tight against the Magpies.
"We put in enough minutes throughout the year to get my body in a state where I can run out a full game if I have to," Naitanui said.
"With finals, the intensity lifts a bit more so I wouldn't imagine I'd play too much more game time - it'd probably be only when it's called upon if the game's real close.
"We don't have the double chance this year and every game's a knockout... So I think all the minutes and all the management stuff goes out the window when it's time to win the game."
Naitanui faces a stern challenge against Brodie Grundy, who has struggled to recapture the heights of last year's All-Australian form but remains among the game's top ruckmen.
"I'm going to respect him as much as I do any other player," Naitanui said.
"But these guys (Collingwood) know how to play finals, they've been there before and we've had some pretty good match-ups over the years as well.
"So I'm really looking forward to that challenge."
The Eagles will welcome back Luke Shuey (hamstrings) and Jack Redden (thumb) with Naitanui confident the Eagles' midfield would quickly recapture its chemistry.
"To get those boys back this week it'll just be a bonus," Naitanui said.
"We know how each other works. We work with each other every single day of the week.
"If we're not on the field, we're in our shed here, or we're in the gym.
"So I don't think that chemistry goes out the window after a couple of weeks - (I've) been working with Shuey for the last 12-13 years. So we'll just pick that up."
Naitanui missed West Coast's 2018 premiership through injury and said the hunt for a flag continued to drive him.
"Some of our better performers and some of the guys who are real hungry are those guys that have missed out," he said.
"Brad Sheppard's had a good year, Andrew Gaff's had a solid year and the three of us sat down and watched on in 2018 - so we want to get back there."
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AFL 2020 West Coast Eagles Nic Naitanui ready to shoulder finals load - ESPN
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