West Coast coach John Worsfold hopes Saturday's clash with newcomers Gold Coast will prove to be a sneak preview of bigger and better things to come for the fledgling lists of both AFL clubs.

The Eagles won just four games during last year's wooden spoon campaign but have become the Cinderella story of 2011, with their five wins from nine games putting them firmly on track for a finals appearance.

Gold Coast are further behind in their development but are set to improve at a dramatic rate over the coming years, due to the glut of talented youngsters on their list.

Although Worsfold said it was too hard to predict whether the premiership windows of both clubs would coincide down the track, he believed bright futures lay ahead for both teams.

"It's hard to predict that timing of all that but it would be fair to say Gold Coast are going to be a very exciting team, very quickly," Worsfold said on Wednesday.

"Hopefully, there may be a coast grand final one day (with West Coast versus Gold Coast).

"The biggest area for improvement (for Gold Coast) is in their youth.

"Their senior players - we know how good they are - and it's a matter now of getting experience through their group.

"There's parts of their game that, they're like us. We've still got big areas of improvement in our style of play and the way we move the ball."

Bragging rights will be on the line when Worsfold locks horns with good friend and two-time premiership teammate Guy McKenna, who coaches Gold Coast.

"It will be a very quiet week this week, maybe a lot of talk next week," Worsfold said with a smile.

"Nah, we don't really play those games. We don't muck around too much like that other than a humorous comment either way.

"But then it's done and dusted, we get on with the business.

"It's a funny one. Coaching against coaches isn't what it's about.

"You don't get to see them during the game. You don't have anything to do with them.

"So the fact that Bluey's in the box next to us won't cross my mind at all."

Worsfold said this weekend's result would mean little in regards to future battles between the two sides.

"If you ever think you've got that (psychological edge), that's when you get beaten or caught out against opponents," Worsfold said.

"For some of our players, you might say (Luke) Shuey versus (David) Swallow is a good starting point.

"But for the one who plays well on the weekend, it doesn't guarantee them anything going forward."

West Coast midfielder Andrew Embley's wife was due to give birth on Wednesday, and Worsfold had his fingers crossed it wouldn't coincide with Saturday's match.

"I haven't actually spoken to him about the weekend yet. I will, but it may not be a worry. We may have another little Embley in the world before then," Worsfold said.

Defender Sam Butler is a chance to return this weekend, after missing last week's loss to Collingwood with a groin injury.

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