It is likely to be at least a year before Nic Naitanui plays football again, with the ruckman set to undergo traditional knee surgery on Wednesday afternoon.

The West Coast star had considered other options to repair the anterior cruciate ligament he ruptured in his left knee during the Eagle's game against Hawthorn on the weekend, including a hybrid LARS-hamstring graft.

A dejected Nic Naitanui on the Eagles bench on Friday night. Credit:Getty Images/AFL Media

The newer method can help speed recovery times, but the AFL website reports Naitanui had instead decided on a more standard hamstring graft, which will see the 26-year-old sidelined for 12 months.

Orthopaedic consultant Dr Peter Annear will perform the surgery.