West Coast won't take any risks with star ruckman Nic Naitanui. Picture: Jordan Shields Source: The Sunday Times
WEST Coast ruck sensation Nic Naitanui could miss up to the first two months of the season as he recovers from serious groin surgery.
Last year's All-Australian ruckman is preparing for a likely comeback between Rounds 2 and 8 after undergoing surgery on his groins in November.
The electrifying big man is set to miss the entire NAB Cup after only recently resuming light running and training drills.
Naitanui, 22, carried the groin problem and significant soreness late last season but bravely played on, finishing with 22 games for the year.
The excitement machine barely trained throughout the final eight weeks of the season, including finals, to manage the injury.
Eagles management initially decided against surgery after the season finished but sent him in for an operation after the injury failed to improve during the post-season break.
Naitanui's ruck tandem with Dean Cox is a key plank in the club's premiership quest.
They are widely regarded as the No.1 ruck duo in the league.
While the 77-gamer's absence will be a blow to the Eagles, assistant coach Justin Longmuir said the club wanted the key big man to be reaching his peak towards September.
"He's just started running again, so he's a long way behind the rest of the group and we'll take a really cautious approach with him,'' Longmuir said.
"We really need Nic Nat firing at the end of the year, not so much at the start of the year.
"If he comes up for Round 1 that will be great, but we've got the cover if he doesn't come up for Round 1.''
Summer Barometer: Eagles' injury and training latest
The Eagles, rated third favourite ($7) to win the 2013 premiership with TAB, have a tough start to the season with home assignments against Fremantle and Hawthorn in Rounds 1 and 2.
Burgeoning 202cm ruckman Scott Lycett has been identified as Naitanui's early-season replacement after an impressive pre-season campaign.
The 20-year-old has played three career AFL games but is set to feature prominently in the NAB Cup to test his readiness for a more permanent ruck-forward berth.
"He's really come of age this pre-season, he's training the house down,'' Longmuir said on Perth radio station SPORTFM 91.3.
"Hopefully he can take his game to a new level.''
Hard-nut midfielder Daniel Kerr (knee) and Beau Waters (hip) are also expected to sit out the pre-season competition.
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