The finals hopes of West Coast midfielder Matt Rosa remain alive despite the 24-year-old succumbing to a knee injury.

Rosa is expected to miss the final four matches of the home-and-away season after scans revealed damage to the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

The reliable winger had been in career-best form for the Eagles this year, averaging 22 possessions across 18 games and playing a vital role in the club's resurgence.

Rosa, who missed out on West Coast's 2006 premiership triumph despite 15 games that year, is desperate to play a big role in this year's finals series and, no doubt, will be hoping his deeds this season will earn him an automatic recall when he's ready - just in time for September.

Defender Will Schofield said Rosa was lucky not to suffer more serious damage in the clash of legs with Richmond's Daniel Jackson, who injured his ankle in the incident.

"He's probably lucky they both didn't break their legs to be honest," Schofield said.

"That could have been the worst result.

"That (Rosa's absence) will hurt us a little bit because Matty's been a really consistent performer for us, but I'm sure he'll get up.

"The physios inside are pretty good, so they'll fix him up."

Eagles defender Sam Butler has been ruled out for up to three weeks with a calf injury, continuing his frustrating run with soft-tissue injuries.

West Coast coach John Worsfold was confident ruckmen Dean Cox (hip) and Nic Naitanui (leg) would be fit to tackle Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Sunday despite the pair copping heavy knocks in Sunday's 57-point win over the Tigers.

Eagles forward Josh Kennedy is expected to return from an eye injury, but defender Beau Waters will miss another week as he nurses his sore elbow.

Fifth-placed West Coast remain just two points adrift of Carlton, who have played one more game and are in danger of slipping out of the top-four by season's end if the Eagles continue their winning run.

Melbourne, who have copped floggings of 186 points and 76 points in the past two weeks, aren't expected to cause West Coast too many problems.

Schofield sympathised with the Demons' plight.

"Over the past three years, we've had some big losing margins. We lost to Geelong by 120 points (actually 135 points in 2008) over here at one stage," Schofield said.

"I probably don't know what Melbourne's going through because every club's different, but I certainly know what it's like to lose by big margins.

"I think it sticks in your head ... none of the players would be trying to lose by 140 points. It's not what you go out to do and it definitely sticks in your head.

"It will be something they'll be trying to rectify pretty quickly. That's how we felt."

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