Nic Naitanui could be in line for a round 19 recall against Collingwood, according to coach Adam Simpson.

The ruckman had surgery to repair an inflamed tendon on both Achilles after the Eagles round 12 loss to Adelaide.

If Naitanui is not passed fit for an AFL recall against the Pies, Simpson suggested it would be the week after a Western Derby match-up with Fremantle. 

Simpson joked chief executive officer Trevor Nisbett might not let him bring the 26-year-old back through the WAFL.

‘If Naitanui is available I don’t know how many games he would need to play at East Perth,’ Simpson said.

‘He’s one or two weeks away. Hopefully we might see him around the Collingwood game, if not, hopefully the week after.

‘He’s obviously one of our key players we’d like in our side.’

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