Kennedy, 21, will play his first game for the season and just his eighth for the club on Sunday after knee and shoulder injuries cruelled his first year at Subiaco Oval.
The No.4 draft pick played 22 games in two seasons at Carlton and Metropolis said he was ready to string some games together for the Eagles.
"Josh will come in and give a great account of himself," Metropolis said from Subiaco Oval on Friday.
"He's been playing some good footy and we expect that he'll do well.
"So he'll definitely get the opportunity to do well for us this week and we'd like to think he'll play some consecutive games for us and get some good form up."
Metropolis said Kennedy would fill both the lead-up role vacated by Ash Hansen, who has been dropped, and a deep full forward role at times.
Hansen will play for WAFL side Swan Districts this week after failing to kick a goal in the past fortnight.
"We just need to get him to kick some goals for us," Metropolis said.
"[He's got] the opportunity to go back to Swan Districts and do that; we expect that he will.
"He'll get some good form under his belt and be back in the side sooner rather than later."
Out of touch defenders Adam Hunter and Brett Jones have been named on an extended interchange bench for West Coast alongside Will Schofield.
After an impressive fortnight shutting down attacking defenders Lindsay Gilbee (Western Bulldogs) and Luke Hodge (Hawthorn) Schofield was left out against Fremantle.
"He did a great role for us (but) we thought the next week there probably wasn't the same role for him," Metropolis said.
"He's certainly in contention to play. He had some good WAFL form behind him when he went back and a great attitude."
Schofield's case may be helped by Melbourne's smaller forward line, particularly veteran Russell Robertson.
"He's a wonderful player," Metropolis said. "He can jump on your head and take mark of the year or he can lead up and get a shot on goal as well.
"He's definitely a player we have to watch, but he's one of six that play down there at any one time.
"They're definitely not a one-trick pony."
