West Coast coach John Worsfold is encouraging his players to take some risks in their NAB Cup quarter-final against Port Adelaide on Saturday as he tries to gauge the strength of his AFL team.

Worsfold has confirmed star ruckman Dean Cox is almost certain to feature against the Power at Subiaco Oval after overcoming a serious groin injury, although enforcer Beau Waters may be held back another week.

West Coast got off to a sluggish start in their round-one win over Essendon and Worsfold wants his fledgling side to take more risks against the Power.

"Winning's what they all want to do. We are all creatures of wanting to win but the more important side of it is players have a real go at taking some risks and showing us what they can do," Worsfold said.

"If they make some extra mistakes because they go for harder options then so be it, we'll be encouraging them to do it.

"We have to find out ourselves where we sit.

"We don't want to just play safe, we want to play some quick, risky football and see where we sit in that regard.

"Winning is certainly what we are going out to do, but not at all costs, not at the cost of potentially improving ourselves.

"If they get caught (running with the ball) then that teaches us something about those players.

"It's about learning."

Worsfold said Cox, who hasn't played since injuring his groin in round 15 last year, was finally ready to resume after completing an intensive rehabilitation program.

"It's exciting for him. He's really keen to get back in, he's feeling really good," Worsfold said.

"He won't play a full game.

"Possibly (he'll play as) a sub or possibly he'll play the four quarters but limited game time.

"He'll do some ruck work for sure."

Waters has recovered from the elbow injury that has sidelined him for more than a year and also minor knee surgery that grounded him for several weeks over the summer.

But Worsfold said the 23-year-old may not be risked against the Power given the temperature is expected to reach 39 degrees in Perth on Saturday.

"It's a matter of whether we want to use him in that limited time this week ... we'll have to weigh that up with the heat," Worsfold said.

"We may not want to play too many players who are going to play just a half of football.

"With what he showed with all his training this pre-season he's ready to step into this type of game but it might not be this week."

Worsfold said Andrew Embley and Matt Priddis were in line to be given the week off after playing in the round one win over Essendon.

Mitch Brown, Eric Mackenzie, Matt Spangher and rookies Ashton Hams, Andrew Strijk and former Tiger Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls were in contention to face the Power after sitting out against Essendon.

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