WEST Coast coaches John Worsfold and Peter Sumich are willing to bury the hatchet and welcome Ben Cousins back to the club in 2009.

In a remarkable admission, assistant coach Sumich says 30-year-old Cousins, who was delisted by the Eagles and deregistered by the AFL in the wake of his much publicised drug addiction, could appear in West Coast colours again – but the club's board would never allow it.

"It has been discussed at our club … and myself and John would have Ben back at the club," Sumich told Perth radio station 6PR on Friday.

Cousins is due to reveal his footballing intentions on the Seven Network prior to the Toyota AFL Grand Final on Saturday, and Sumich admitted Eagles coaches had discussed the chance of his unlikely return to the club where he won the 2006 premiership.

But Cousins' return to AFL ranks is far from a done deal, with the 2005 Brownlow Medallist still facing a number of hurdles before being able to resume his 238-game career.

First and foremost, Cousins must convince the AFL and its medical officers he is completely over his drug addiction and is mentally and physically ready to play again.

His return to the west may have been discussed at a coaching level, but Sumich said he might have a tougher job convincing the West Coast board.

The Eagles senior assistant said if there was a surge of support among players to bring back Cousins, they would approach the board - he but had little confidence chairman Mark Barnaba and his fellow executive would listen favourably.

"I think the players have done a big turnaround on that side of things … but it would come down to a board decision, and there is no chance," Sumich said.

"Personally I would love to see him back. I think … if he wants to continue his career (it) should finish at West Coast.

"He has done the hard yards, and he learned his lessons through us making a hard decision on him as a match committee.

"If they (the players) make a strong pull, myself and John would put something together and we would take it to the board … but it would be a big thing to change them around at the moment."

The fallen AFL star will appear on Channel Seven's grand final preview show on Saturday morning to apparently outline his ambitions for the next year - having spent the past twelve months fighting drug addiction and serving an AFL ban for bringing the game into disrepute.

"Cousins will appear on a panel ... and will answer the question the football world has been awaiting for almost 12 months," the Seven Network said in a statement.

The 238-game player has trained with WAFL clubs Perth and East Fremantle - and has met with Magpies coach Mick Malthouse several times during his forced hiatus.

Meanwhile, Sumich was also reported as saying on Fairfax website WAtoday.com.au that the Eagles would know within 24 hours whether recently retired Collingwood captain Scott Burns was coming to the club as an assistant coach.

Burns was in Perth this week to meet with club officials and he was reportedly offered a lucrative chance to begin his coaching career in WA.