WEST Coast's games record-holder Glen Jakovich believes Nic Naitanui would benefit from playing again this season if fit to return.

The 2012 All Australian ruckman played 11 straight matches this season after missing the pre-season and the first five rounds due to groin surgery, before being rested in the Eagles’ round 18 loss to the Western Bulldogs.

That loss has left the Eagles three games adrift of eighth spot on the ladder with five rounds remaining, prompting suggestions that Naitanui should be shelved for the season in order to prepare for the 2014 campaign.

But Jakovich, a four-time best and fairest and dual All Australian, believes sitting Naitanui out for the rest of the year would hinder his development.  

"John Worsfold would love to get more games into Nic because he's still in his development stage and I think he needs to learn to push through like all players," Jakovich told AFL.com.au.

"Part of each player's maturity and development is the ability to play under a bit of duress.

"I think from Nic's point of view, if he's fit to play then he's got to play because he's got to try and salvage something from the year for himself personally, to finish the year on a good note and then start again next year."

"If he was 31 years of age, if he was Dean Cox, you'd probably understand because you want to prolong great players’ careers but from my point of view, if he's fit and there's no real damage there, he should play," Jakovich said.

"He's been playing catch up footy all year. That's the bottom line. He probably just needs a little bit of a break and to get back into it for the last four games."

Worsfold said the Eagles would have to weigh up the pros and cons of playing Naitanui again this season.

"I understand that some people say ‘why wouldn't you just put him in cotton wool now?’" the West Coast coach said.

"You could do that. Is that a benefit? Well, he's not going to get injured by not playing footy.

"What would make him a better footballer would be learning about his body, doing a rehab, training, coming back and having an understanding of what he can do and playing a couple of games towards the end of the year.

"Then having his normal off-season break would mean mentally he'd be really looking forward to the pre-season, not having some doubt about 'am I going to get sore again next year?'"

Worsfold said Naitanui was not ready to return this week against Gold Coast despite the ruckman trying to convince the coaching staff otherwise.

"He's telling Burnsy (Scott Burns) he's available to play this week," the coach said.