WEST Coast ruckman Dean Cox has denied the club has been forced into tanking mode despite reaching ever deeper into its player reserves for tonight's match against North Melbourne on the Gold Coast.

A defeat will put the Eagles just one loss shy of their club-worst eight consecutive defeats in 2001.

However, the Eagles showed their rebuilding commitment by selecting virtually unknown teenager Ryan Davis, who was elevated this week from the rookie list and was kicking a soccer ball around in Sydney only a few years ago.

Though West Coast will also persist with youngsters Chris Masten, Brad Ebert, Josh Kennedy, Will Schofield and Ben McKinley, Cox said the players were disgusted with their effort against Carlton last round - particularly an abysmal second quarter - and were desperately seeking victory.

Some eastern states cynics have suggested the Eagles had already started to position themselves for early draft picks at the end of the season, as the introduction of up to two new AFL franchises were certain to get first bids on a sizeable chunk of the nation's young football talent in the next couple of years.

"If we play better we will win," Cox said, admitting the Eagles' once fierce intensity had gone missing and had been replaced by undisciplined acts.

"Every player wants to win every week. Obviously it doesn't happen, but we prepare every week to the best we possibly can and go into every game as confident that we are going to win the game and that'll be no different from here on in.

"If we continue to play the footy we know we can play, well then we're good enough to beat any side. Every player knows we're 1-6 and lost the last six, but history, records, don't really bother us and never did when we were winning.

"The results will take care of themselves. If we give a four-quarter intense effort, then North Melbourne are going to have to play some good footy to beat us."

Cox said Davis, who the Eagles selected through the NSW scholarship program, was a perfect swap for the injured Beau Waters and described the 18-year-old as an attacking and hard-at-the-ball half-back. He also showed a good turn of speed during a solid training hit-out at Gold Coast Stadium yesterday.

The Eagles are likely to use both David Wirrpanda and the returned Brent Staker to bolster their attack. North Melbourne will welcome back tough defender Josh Gibson.

The Kangaroos will also debut SANFL premiership defender Alan Obst, who was promoted from the the club's rookie list, while Peel Thunder recruit Matt Riggio is set for his third game since being drafted in 2005.

Gibson, 24, who will return for just his 28th game, admitted he was "pretty injury-prone" and echoed the thoughts coming out of Arden Street all week that victory over the Eagles was crucial.

"You're right, we're 3-3 and a draw and it's important that we have another win this weekend," Gibson said.

"West Coast have only won one game, but they're a fantastic outfit and we won't be taking them lightly because they'll definitely hurt you if you do."

Cox said an embarrassingly small crowd being tipped for tonight's match would not put him in unfamiliar territory after learning his football trade in Western Australia's north-west.

"To play in front of the Dampier Sharks crowd every week would be good . . . they're probably a little bit more hostile with 500 people, the beer garden certainly makes sure of that," he said.

WEST AUSTRALIAN