The start of the AFL season is still two months away but West Coast are already busy formulating round one plans to stop Brisbane power forwards Jonathan Brown and Brendan Fevola.

Fevola, a fan favourite during his 11 colourful seasons at Carlton, was off-loaded to Brisbane during trade week following his drunken antics at last year's Brownlow Medal count.

West Coast assistant coach Peter Sumich predicts the new partnership of Brown and Fevola can easily combine for 150-plus goals this season and says the Eagles are already assessing ways to counter the duo in the round one clash at the Gabba.

When asked which defensive pair would get the job, Sumich joked: "Glassy and Glassy.

"It's a huge challenge. You know Darren Glass is going to get one of them.

"We are trying to find a few (more options).

"You've got two of the greats (to stop).

"There'll be some young kids step up.

"(Matt) Spangher's going really well, (Mitch) Brown's going to be back on track this week or next week, Beau Wilkes.

"You've got (Eric) Mackenzie who'll be back up and running. So we've got options."

Most of West Coast's training sessions have been closed to the public and media this summer but Eagles spies have kept tabs on Brisbane's progress.

"We keep an eye on Brisbane, not every day or every training session, because it is out of the way a bit, but we have had little updates in between," Sumich said.

The Eagles kick off their NAB Cup campaign at home against Essendon on February 12 and Sumich confirmed 19-year-old Nic Naitanui would lead the ruck division for most of the pre-season as Dean Cox struggles to regain peak fitness.

Cox played just 13 games last year before a debilitating groin complaint ended his season. And the 28-year-old suffered another setback before Christmas, injuring his abdominal muscle.

Sumich declared Cox a certain starter for round one of the season proper and Sumich said Naitanui would benefit from an extended role in the ruck during the pre-season.

"He's still, in my opinion, two or three years away from being the player everybody expects him to be," Sumich said of Naitanui, who was snared with pick No.2 in the 2008 national draft.

"You've got to give him a bit of grace."

Meanwhile, Sumich said Kevin Sheedy's ambitious plan to lure all four Selwood brothers to his western Sydney squad in time for the 2012 AFL season would fail to materialise.

"The two we've got here (Adam and Scott Selwood) are pretty committed and the family loves it here," Sumich said.

"I'd find it hard for them to go, especially Adam.

"Joel has won a couple of premierships (with Geelong) playing in three grand finals, it's hard to leave.

"I know money talks a little bit but at the end of the day it's all about playing grand finals."

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