WEST Coast is confident Tom Barrass will be fit for the start of the 2020 AFL season despite the star defender undergoing foot surgery.

Barrass missed 11 rounds last season after undergoing surgery for a similar stress-related issue, but this time it's his other foot that is injured.

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The Eagles expect Barrass to be sidelined for eight weeks, but are aiming to have him ready for the start of the season.

Barrass joins fellow key defender Jeremy McGovern (heel surgery) on the sidelines.

Last season, West Coast coach Adam Simpson blamed the hard Optus Stadium turf for the team's spate of stress-related foot injuries.

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