GOLD Coast midfielder Jaeger O'Meara has been dealt another setback and will not make his comeback from knee surgery for another six weeks.

O'Meara ruptured his patella tendon last April and was set for a round one return at NEAFL level, but a recent arthroscope on the knee has cost him more time.

Suns coach Rodney Eade told AFL.com.au's First Bounce program that the former NAB Rising Star winner would now be likely to play at the lower level in "round four or five".

"He had a bit of a scan of the tendon, and it's pristine and has good strength, but he had a flap on his patella and he had an arthroscope to trim that and it put him back a couple of weeks," Eade said.

"He'll be back running next week.

"We'd like to think he could start playing some football, obviously the NEAFL first up, probably round four or five."

Eade said despite the setback, O'Meara was in a "good headspace".

The 23-year-old has not played a senior match since round 23, 2014 but recently told AFL.com.au he was in no rush to return and just wanted to come back bigger and better than ever.

O'Meara's news comes in the same week fellow midfielder David Swallow was ruled out until midway through the season following an arthroscope on his injured left knee.