STAR West Coast spearhead Josh Kennedy believes he is better than a 60 per cent chance to return against Gold Coast this Saturday night, but concedes the decision is out of his hands.

Speaking to AFL.com.au on Monday, the dual Coleman medallist declared he would put his hand up to play the Suns at Optus Stadium after battling ankle and knee issues.

But Kennedy has to convince coach Adam Simpson and medical staff he is ready not just for the Gold Coast clash but that he can then get through the rest of the year.

"I'm definitely over 60 per cent to play this week. I'm definitely over the halfway mark," Kennedy said.

"So now it's really up to them. I'm hoping this week, but if not, next week. I don’t think we'll push it out too much longer. 

"Round six was always it and now it's just what they think we can risk and handle."

The Eagles' new-look forward line has averaged a tick over 100 points per game without Kennedy and – even though they could lose exciting forward Liam Ryan (ankle) after Sunday's thrilling win over Geelong – they are unlikely to gamble with their prized goalkicker.

"I've been in contention to play medically for the last couple of weeks, but now it's just a matter whether I could handle game load and get through – not just one game but handle the rest of the year," Kennedy said. 

"I wanted to play on the weekend, but obviously I wasn't allowed.

"Hopefully this weekend or next week (against Carlton), but it just depends on what Simmo says and also the fitness staff.

"Getting the training minutes is the biggest thing.

"In terms of the amount of load that's come through my legs to be able to handle a game, we're just trying to get that threshold up.

"I probably could have come out and played on the weekend, but I don't know if I would have got through the next three weeks.

"I could probably play this week but how sore will I be in five games' time? They're all the things they've got to weigh up.

"They've got a fair idea on what they're thinking and it's just a bartering game now with me and them."

Kennedy underwent ankle surgery in December to stop a bone rubbing on a tendon, an issue which was related to his calf/Achilles problem last season.

The 30-year-old missed five games but still nearly won a historic third successive Coleman Medal before being pipped by Lance Franklin in the final round.

"We thought that (ankle) would settle naturally. We could have gone for the operation post-season but it was going to be around 16 weeks or 20 weeks (to recover)," Kennedy said.

"We'd never had time to give it a rest and we had 10 weeks and I was happy with a slow build-up pre-Christmas. 

"By the second or third week of pre-season it was back to what it was.

"I didn't have to get surgery but I opted for it. It's come out all right, touch wood. It's been good, I haven't felt it ever since.

"It just means it's been a slow process building back up. I didn't really start pre-season until the start of February."

Kennedy also underwent a minor operation before round one to remove a bone fragment the size of a five-cent coin that had been lodged in his knee since 2014 but he was back running within a week.

After battling his share of injury concerns in the past 12 months, Kennedy is aware he will need to manage his workload at training and in games for the rest of his career.

"At the moment, I'm feeling really, really good," he said.

"I've got a couple of years left (on my contract until the end of 2019). I'm over 30 now. These years you've really got to tighten up with your recovery and get the best out of yourself."