West Coast players both young and old will be fighting to salvage their AFL careers in Saturday's western derby clash with Fremantle.

With the Eagles languishing in 13th spot on the table following just four wins from 16 rounds, assistant coach Daniel Metropolis said careers would go on the line over the remaining six matches of the year.

"Every game you play is a great opportunity because this game's so fickle and coming towards the end of the year there's tough decisions for every club to be made," Metropolis said on Friday.

"Young players are playing for their lives, old players are playing for their lives ...

"Every time you go out, the performance you put out dictates whether you can be an AFL player or not.

"Every year, every club has to drop three players off their list.

"So every time you get an opportunity to get out on the ground you're making a statement about whether you can play at that level, or whether you're an improving player or whether the game's past you by.

"Players need to have that in the back of their minds that you are playing for your life every time you play the game.

"It's the nature of the beast. It's a cut-throat industry and some players will stay and some will go so you need to treat it like that."

Fremantle have been installed as warm $1.57 favourites by TAB Sportsbet following the return of ruckman Aaron Sandilands and skipper Matthew Pavlich, while the Eagles, still minus Dean Cox and Daniel Kerr, are rated $2.30 outsiders.

Derby specialist Paul Hasleby (calf) and Chris Tarrant (knee) were named in Fremantle's line-up but must pass late fitness tests to take their place.

Eagles ruck duo Mark Seaby and Nic Naitanui face a massive challenge to curb the influence of Sandilands at the stoppages in what shapes as a key facet of the game.

Naitanui weighs 27kg less than Sandilands and concedes 10cm in height but Metropolis said the 19-year-old's amazing leap would help even the ledger against the Fremantle giant.

"Aaron's probably only four inches taller than him so he only has to jump four inches higher and I think he can do that," Metropolis said.

"Nic Naitanui's still unknown for all of us.

"He's a raw player and gets an opportunity to have a go.

"Sandilands has done a really good job for Fremantle and he's an imposing man, he's one of their best players and arguably the best ruckman in the competition, so it's a challenge."

Fremantle have won six of the past seven derbies, including four straight, but Metropolis denied the Dockers held a mental edge over West Coast.

While the tanking debate has put a downer to the build-up of the western derby, Metropolis promised the on-field spectacle wouldn't disappoint the fans.

"Both teams will come out and have a red-hot go because it divides the town, divides families and creates a lot of talk around the kitchen table," he said.

Meanwhile, Fremantle have re-signed defender Paul Duffield and midfielder Byron Schammer to the club until the end of the 2011 season.

Duffield, 24, has agreed to a one-year contract extension, while Schammer, also 24, has signed on for another two seasons.

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