Star West Coast midfielder Daniel Kerr could be set for more time on the sidelines after being ruled out of Sunday's AFL clash with St Kilda at Subiaco Oval.

Kerr will miss his second game on the trot with what assistant coach Peter Sumich revealed as an abdominal strain.

Back-up ruckman Nic Naitanui will also miss the match against the Saints with a gluteal injury.

But while Naitanui is expected to return next week, Kerr's immediate future is uncertain.

"It could be (a longer term injury), we're assessing it," Sumich said on Friday.

"He trained yesterday but he pulled up sore.

"It kept him out last week but we were assessing all things.

"He pulled up very sore so it was a general thing, now it's an actual spot or area, so we're just treating that."

Meanwhile, Sumich confirmed he has applied for the vacant Richmond coaching job.

Sumich applied for the head job at Essendon and Melbourne in 2007 but felt he was better prepared this time around.

"I think I'm better prepared but I thought I prepared and gave a great presentation to the Essendon job and I came very close," he said.

"I'll just bowl along and see what happens."

Sumich, who has been John Worsfold's right-hand man for eight years and was a dual premiership player at the Eagles, said he had not put in his application for the top job at North Melbourne.

The Eagles are long odds to topple the unbeaten Saints and made five changes in all to the side that lost to Melbourne last week.

Premiership forward Ashley Hansen returns along with ruckman Dean Cox, Eric Mackenzie, Mark Nicoski and debutant Patrick McGinnity.

Naitanui, Brett Jones (hamstring) and Scott Selwood (general soreness) couldn't be considered, while Chad Fletcher and Ben McKinley were dropped.

St Kilda made just one change from the side that defeated Geelong last week, including Sean Dempster - for his first game this season after overcoming a serious knee injury - at the expense of Jarryn Geary.

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