Question on water pump replacement

The job seems very straightforward, but one thing that I am having difficulty doing is accessing the two coolant drainage plugs on the passenger and driver side of block.

I can see them, but I just can’t get clear access to them, and attempting to seems like way more work than necessary…any tips or tricks?

It would seem like I can complete the water pump replacement without draining coolant from these two plugs knowing that when I pull the pump there will be spillage. Fine.

I could then just flush the system with new coolant once the new water pump and radiator have been installed.

Thoughts?

 

Passenger side 2 foot extension through the wheel well. Didn’t need to jack up but I have a 2” lift.
Driver side can be open in the engine bay. But mine was so rusted that i had to use a flex joint through the wheel well with a big rachet. passenger side is more important as it drains more

 

Didnt even bother with those two when I did mine. Just accommodated the spillage into a receptacle and flushed after.