Former Fremantle and St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has backed Willie Rioli to make a return to West Coast’s senior side this year, saying the banned Eagle is “in their best 22”.

The 26-year-old is set to be welcomed back to the club’s Lathlain headquarters this Sunday and will be available for selection once his two-year doping ban ends on August 20, putting him in the frame for a potential round 23 return.

Despite the fight already on for spots in West Coast’s packed forward line, Lyon believes the Eagles will make room for the premiership goalsneak in their star-studded line-up.

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Asked if he believed Rioli would be ready to return to senior football in 2021, Lyon said he had “no doubt”.

“Eight weeks, you can do an enormous amount of training depending on your commitment levels and the Eagles, no-one more resourced in the AFL than them, so they can get him up,” he told Footy Classified on Wednesday.

“If he’s fit and ready, they’ll play him because he’s in their best 22.”

Essendon great Matthew Lloyd said Rioli’s return wasn’t as set in stone but said he should aim to be match-ready in case another forward went down and the opportunity arose for a call-up.

If West Coast choose not to select him for the clash against Brisbane at The Gabba, Rioli could make a return to football through the Eagles’ WAFL side, who play Claremont on August 21.

West Coast coach Adam Simpson last week said the banned Eagle must re-establish relationships with players and prove his fitness before he’s picked.

“He hasn’t been able to come to the club so the first part will be getting him familiar with the boys again,” Simpson told 7News.

“There’s probably 15 or 16 players he’s never met. It’s been a while since he’s been inside the four walls.

“He’ll start training with the guys if he can. He’ll get a tick off through his medical and then we’ll go from there.”