ADAM Simpson is considering using club champion Elliot Yeo in stints up forward as West Coast plans ways to spread the load in spearhead Josh Kennedy's absence.

Yeo, an All Australian half-back last year, is preparing for a midfield role in 2018 but boasts the overhead prowess and goalkicking instincts to relieve the pressure on a young Eagles attack.

West Coast could have as many as four debutants – Liam Ryan, Willie Rioli, Jake Waterman and Daniel Venables – stationed in the forward line during the season-opening blockbuster at Optus Stadium.

Yeo booted three goals against Gold Coast in round 11 last season when Kennedy was sidelined, and could provide another target alongside Jack Darling.

"Looking at our front half, with how raw that is without JK there, that's definitely something we'll look at," West Coast coach Simpson told AFL.com.au. 

Yeo averaged 23 disposals and seven marks mainly in defence last year, but is being mooted for an expanded midfield role to add some dynamism to the engine room.

The 24-year-old shadowed some of the League's best goalkicking onballers last year and, at 190cm and 89kg, has the potential to evolve into a powerful midfielder. 

"He would often play on (Nat) Fyfe, (Marcus) Bontempelli, (Patrick) Dangerfield and go with them forward and on-ball," Simpson said.

"He's an All Australian half-back but he played on-ball for periods last year. 

"We just want to explore that more without a (run-with) role.

"Consistency of output is probably the next step for him as an onballer, because he's just done that now as a defender.

"I think it's more just time, not what he needs to work on because he's got the tools."

The Eagles will be without Kennedy until at least round three as he undergoes a mini pre-season following ankle surgery in December.

The dual Coleman medallist hasn't encountered any setbacks but had another minor operation to remove a bone fragment in his leg this week.

"There's a fair bit to say when you've been around for a while that you've got the muscle memory and you kick-in with your experience, but you've got to have a little base (before playing)," Simpson said.

"He's literally done two-to-three weeks of training, so we've just got to get his base up to a level where he's confidence where he can back it up week after week."

Kennedy also missed five games mid-season last year battling a calf/Achilles issue, and Simpson revealed the Eagles will manage the 30-year-old's game time and training program differently this year.

"He's a warrior. He plays sore all the time. We've definitely got to manage him a bit differently," he said.

"He's one of those that would play every minute of every game and from start to finish he just rips it apart.

"We've got to look at how we manage his body and his training and all that, because he just goes.

"He doesn't have a second gear."