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West Coast forward Josh Kennedy will need to wear an elbow brace for about a month, but it won't stop him from playing next week.

West Coast coach Adam Simpson has declared Josh Kennedy a certain starter for round one 0f the AFL despite the star forward suffering an elbow injury.

Kennedy injured his elbow in last week's pre-season loss to Fremantle, and has since been forced to wear a brace to manage the complaint.

But Simpson said it was only a minor injury, and wouldn't stop Kennedy playing in the March 22 home clash with Melbourne.

"He got a little bit of a knock on his elbow so you'll see him with a brace," Simpson said.

"That'll be around for three, four, or five weeks.

"Let's not get too panicky. He's OK, he's available to play and the doctors have suggested while he's not training or playing he needs to wear this brace around."

Kennedy also injured his elbow in 2015, but Simpson says it's a different part of the elbow that is the problem this time around.

Simpson said Jeremy McGovern was a strong chance to feature in round one.

McGovern made it through more than a half of football against the Dockers in his first match back since undergoing surgery on his heel.

The All-Australian defender will feature in Friday's intraclub hit out.

Jack Darling (fractured cheekbone) is also expected to be fit for round one.