WEST Coast coach Adam Simpson concedes he is unsure when Josh Kennedy will return and is wary of rushing him back after revealing the star spearhead is battling another hairline fracture in his leg.
The Eagles sorely missed Kennedy's presence in a flat 40-point loss to North Melbourne in Hobart, with a youthful forward line unable to make the most of limited supply from an overwhelmed midfield.
Kennedy has been running on an anti-gravity treadmill but is yet to resume training after a collision with young defender Tom Cole last Thursday.
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It is a similar issue to a setback which sidelined the dual Coleman medallist between rounds 14 to 16, when the Eagles lost to Essendon and Adelaide before scraping past the Giants.
Already ruled out of Sunday's 48th Western Derby, Kennedy appears in serious doubt for a return against top-four rival Port Adelaide next round.
"We went through this a few weeks ago – it's a very similar injury," Simpson said.
"We're a bit more aware of the process.
"He's getting better. The next week or two hopefully we'll see him back.
"We've just got to get him right, so however long that takes."
The second-placed Eagles have a 3-4 record without Kennedy this season and will look at tinkering with their attack after being held to just 41 points last round.
Simpson is considering sending full-back Tom Barrass forward at times after his pinch-hitting role against the Roos and is weighing up forward-ruck Nathan Vardy's position after a quiet four-disposal, one-goal performance.
Small forward Liam Ryan is also back in the mix after booting 2.3 in East Perth's after-the-siren triumph over Perth. Ryan has kicked five majors in three WAFL games since being suspended for crashing his car into a tree last month.
Police are yet to reveal results of their investigation, although Simpson had a "fair indication" where that sits, and believed Ryan was in the right frame of mind if he is picked to return.
"Very seriously considering him. His form was good on the weekend, he had five shots at goal," Simpson said.
"His training standards have been really good and he's in a really good headspace.
"We probably missed a key position forward on the weekend. Liam doesn't fill that void, but he does know how to get a shot on goal."
The Eagles have confirmed star midfielder Luke Shuey (personal) and half-back Lewis Jetta (calf) will return as they eye a seventh-straight victory over Fremantle.
It has been a low-key build up to the derby compared to the bitter enmity heading into the first crosstown clash at Optus Stadium in round six.
That suits Simpson who, after losing his first three derbies, has learned not to hype up the match with his players.
"I made the mistake when I first got to the club to try to build it up as a little bit of a different feel and more of a finals-type of game, but I've learnt really quickly that's not how you operate," he said.
"I'd never been a part of it when I got here in '14 so I thought 'this is a great opportunity to build it up'. "That was silly."
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