It’s the debut Oliver Francou admits he didn’t see coming - and it’s a chance that’s arrived after he “snuck under everyone’s radar” in AFL recruiting circles.

But the form and composure of the mature-age mid-season recruit quickly became impossible for West Coast to ignore, leading to a call-up for Friday night’s home clash against Adelaide.

“I never really expected myself to be put in the team (this week). We’ve got a lot of quality players,” Francou said after learning of his debut.

“We had a joint captain’s run with the WAFL (on Thursday), and I noticed a couple of cameras around.

“Mini (Andrew McQualter) brought everyone in and said that one of the best parts about his job is letting young kids know they are going to debut, and i thought ‘this could be it’.

“And then he said ‘Oli, you’re debuting’, and it was a rush of emotions, and it was very cool.”

Francou becomes the 16th Eagles player to make his AFL debut under Andrew McQualter since the coach’s first game in charge at the start of last season.

The son of Port Adelaide great Josh has averaged 24 disposals and eight tackles per game in his four appearances at WAFL level since arriving from North Adelaide, thriving as a dynamic inside midfielder in West Coast’s reserves side.

McQualter said the 20-year-old had “made a huge impact at our football club in a short period of time”.

“He missed most of his year last year because of injury. He snuck under everyone’s radar and missed out on the draft last year,” McQualter said.

“Even his first five or six games in the SANFL last year were so strong and powerful. He’s a contested ball player (and) tackler, but he’s also got a bit more run in his game than people realise. We think he’s a terrific endurance player as well.

“He’s come into our club - I think he’s played three or four WAFL games now, and the way his teammates are talking about him, the type of teammate he is, it’s a testament to the way he goes about his footy.

McQualter hailed Francou’s contested ball numbers, clearance and tackling as standout features ahead of a likely insertion into the engine room against Adelaide.

It looms as a baptism of fire against the likes of Jordan Dawson and Izak Rankine for the sixth-placed Crows, but the coach was confident he’d be up for the challenge.

“He’s played four weeks understanding our game plan so it’s hard for any young player (or) new player to do what he’s done. But we’ve got great faith in how he will compete at the coalface and look forward to him doing that.”

Francou will debut against the club his father Josh most thrived against during his distinguished AFL career.

The older Francou won four Showdown Medals in the early years of the SA rivalry between the Power and the Crows, and his 14 career Brownlow votes against Adelaide remain the equal-most of any Port Adelaide player.

Oliver paid tribute to his new club for helping him quickly get up to speed with the demands of life on an AFL list across the past five weeks.

“The environment that West Coast have set up, it’s made it really easy to settle in, especially with my new teammates,” he said.

“There’s a lot of good leaders here and when you’re settling in you make new friends and you get comfortable going out on the field with them, and you just build on that as time goes on and start playing your best footy.”