WEST Coast players were ambushed by an eagle mascot with white powder on its beak when the team arrived at Sydney Airport last night.

Many of the players, including captain Chris Judd, were initially unaware of the joke - but it quickly became apparent once the eagle shook its head and white powder sprayed over the group.

Standing alongside the mascot was a supposed official, wearing an accreditation tag declaring him to be an official drug dealer.

The comedy stunt by The Chaser may be a portent to a hostile reception for West Coast in their season-opening match at Telstra Stadium tomorrow night.

But coach John Worsfold said he was not expecting any jeering from the crowd. "I haven't really thought about that at all," he said. "It's not something we'd expect, we haven't really gone into it."

Worsfold reiterated that the Eagles were a drug-free club. He said extensive work had been done behind the scenes to enable him to make such a confident statement, following the upheaval faced by the club over the past few months. "We've put it behind us, but we're still very keen to see Ben [Cousins] in good shape," Worsfold said.

Daniel Kerr appeared nonplussed last night, as did other teammates. Ruckman Dean Cox towered over everyone but, as with the rest of the players, was not willing to comment.

Worsfold said the counselling and rehabilitation work with the players had been lengthy. "The work we have done with the players' group and the reaction of those players [gives me confidence]. It has been over the past month, not just the last week."

The arrival of the Eagles was accompanied by bemused looks from fellow travellers, although several opportunistic fans requested autographs.

Worsfold said his team was looking forward to getting on the field. He said: "We are very keen for the season to start. Those other dramas are behind us."

For Sydney, tomorrow is all about putting a heartbreaking grand final loss behind them. Barry Hall, Sydney's co-captain, said that as much as that day had hurt, it was long gone. "It's heartbreaking, but going into this game, it's the furthest from our mind," Hall said. "We're looking forward to 2007."

The Swans last night punted on midfielder Luke Ablett, despite his having missed almost the entire pre-season with hamstring trouble. From his 2006 grand final team, coach Paul Roos has lost Adam Schneider, Lewis Roberts-Thomson and Simon Doyle to injury, but added recruit Peter Everitt as well as Luke Vogels and Simon Phillips. The Swans also have Jared Crouch recovering from an ankle problem.

The defending champions will have Cousins, Chad Fletcher (knee), Mark Nicoski (shoulder), Ashley Hansen (groin) and Sam Butler (groin) missing from their best 22, making it difficult for Worsfold's team. "I would suggest Ben's in their best 22," Sydney coach Paul Roos said.