SIDELINED Hawthorn midfielder Jaeger O'Meara expects to be back for his side's clash with West Coast on Sunday at the MCG.

O'Meara missed the match against Geelong with what the club said was a knock to his right knee suffered last week against Gold Coast. 

The former Sun said on Channel Seven he almost made it up for the Easter Monday match versus the Cats.

"I was pretty close. Box Hill was playing on Friday and they (the club) had to make the decision on the Thursday," O'Meara said. 

"It ruled me out of this week but I'm confident that I'll only miss the one game." 

The 2013 NAB AFL Rising Star winner didn't play any senior football over the past two years after ongoing knee issues and multiple bouts of surgery. 

"I just got a knock on it last week playing against the Gold Coast. Given my history, the club's being super cautious with me," he said. 

The 23-year-old said he was happy with how his body had felt in his time at the Hawks.

"I had a really good pre-season. Post-Christmas, I did a lot of pre-season and was feeling really good and confident in my body and starting to get going," he said.