As the sun seemingly goes down on the career of one of West Coast's greatest ever players, speculation is building on what he will be doing next season.

The six-times All-Australian ruckman is yet to commit to the Eagles beyond this season.

And while coach Adam Simpson is hopeful of retaining Cox's services as a ruck coach, he seems to be preparing for the possibility that the club's games record holder may look elsewhere for opportunities - perhaps even in continuing into a 15th season and reaching 300 AFL games.

Cox has split his responsibilities between player and Eagles ruck coach this year and has travelled with the side in that capacity on the weeks where he has been unable to take the field.

"He's holding out. We'd love to [sign him now]," Simpson said.

"We'll work through that in the next few weeks about a role. Hopefully it's full time and with us.

"But he's got to make those decisions and look at his options and we respect that.

"I've got no doubt there's clubs that are talking to him about probably playing as well as coaching, the transition, and that's a decision he's got to work through but we're hoping he stays in the family.

"You'd have to ask Dean that [about playing on]. Like I said the other day, he's retiring for a reason. Hopefully he doesn't decide to do that, but that's his call."

The Eagles are moving ahead with plans to celebrate Cox's last home game on Saturday, when they host Melbourne at Patersons Stadium.

They are still in the mix to finish in eighth spot and the only way Cox may return (in Eagles colours) to the Subiaco stadium is if they were to play a fifth-placed Fremantle in an elimination final in two week's time - which isn't a completely unrealistic proposition.

Cox will play his 290th AFL game on Saturday and while Simpson has only been a part of 16 of them, he said he was enjoying playing a role in such a momentous occasion.

"Yeah, look, it's probably more an internal thing amongst the players. The bond runs deeper with them than it does with me," he said.

"I'm ecstatic to be a part of it but he's been with those guys for 12 years, some of them.

"I've probably seen five Cox videos already in the last six weeks. It's like the Johnny Farnham tour at the moment.

"Look, we'll do something special for him and hopefully we can have a win.

"He's excited. He's like a 15-year-old. I can't stop his enthusiasm. It's been there for the whole year since the first day that I got here.

"I've said it before, he's the heartbeat of our playing group. So it's not something you can replace."

Scott Selwood and Elliot Yeo are both back in training after long lay offs with injuries and preparing to return to action should the Eagles qualify for the finals.

For that to happen they need to beat the Demons on Saturday and the Gold Coast in round 23 - plus they need teams above them to lose at least one of their remaining two games.

But Simpson said he was wary of the Demons, who he expects to be looking to bounce back strongly after last week's big loss to GWS - and the week of turmoil that has followed it.

"They [Selwood and Yeo] are training to be available in the coming weeks if we need them," Simpson said.

"They are doing everything they can. Selwood's put on four or five kilograms. He's huge at the moment. He's an animal, and he wants to play. But he's not right this week.

"I'm sure all the players and coaches have done all the maths on it all. But to be honest, Melbourne coming off a disappointing game, I'm sure they're the first to admit that, I think they're going to come out fire.

"We've all been at clubs and situations where your back is against the wall. They've performed really well interstate and challenged some sides and they've beaten some really good sides away.

"They came over on Wednesday on their own. So I get the sense there's a bit of a line in the sand type of feel about it. So we're really preparing for a tough battle. It's not going to be a walk in the park."