WEST Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui hopes to return to the field in the final stages of next season as he sets about recovering from an ACL injury in his left knee. 

Although it's too early to predict a return date, the 26-year-old star has set his sights on reappearing before the end of 2017.

"I plan to play at some stage next year. It will be towards the latter end. I could not give you an exact round or date but I will put my hand up to try to play at some stage," Naitanui said.

The ruckman hurt his ACL on the eve of the 2016 finals series and had an operation to repair the knee in late August.

He began the rehab immediately but has not yet begun running, hoping to get to that point soon after Christmas.

In the meantime he's been working with club physios to strengthen the leg and is back training with the Eagles' rehab group. 

Naitanui's injury forced the club to look to strengthen its ruck stocks in the off-season with Scott Lycett also unlikely to play in the opening rounds due to a PCL injury.

The Eagles recruited former North Melbourne veteran Drew Petrie and talented young Cat Nathan Vardy to boost its ruck stocks in the short-term and assist Jonathan Giles. 

They also added Hawthorn champion Sam Mitchell to the list in one of the more surprising trades in recent history. 

Naitanui said he was confident the Eagles' midfield could still compete in his absence with the ground level players among the best in the business.

"Whether we win it by hand or not I'm sure those guys [midfielders] will get the job done at ground level," Naitanui said. 

The Eagles finished seventh in 2016 after being beaten at home by the Western Bulldogs in the elimination final.