West, 33, has been sidelined since round four with knee bone stress – an injury that must be healed by "time and Mother Nature", Eade said.
He also said it is too early to speculate whether West will return through the lower level, just as former Collingwood champion Nathan Buckley did when he overcame chronic hamstring problems last year.
While West remains hopeful that he will return before the mid-season break, Eade believes it could be hard for the veteran midfielder to be back playing that soon.
"We think he's two or three weeks away. We know that, we've said it publicly," Eade said.
"It's a bone stress, which is not quite a stress fracture but it's like bone bruising. You just need Mother Nature, which is unfortunately the only thing that is going to help us.
"I heard Alastair Clarkson talking about Shane Crawford and he said it could be either one week or four weeks, and that's the same with Scott. We're hopeful medically it was two or three weeks, two or three weeks ago.
"But it's been a slow progression, and he seems to have turned the corner on the weekend, and on Monday he seemed a lot better so we've just got to keep fingers crossed.
"With his stature and class you would think he'd [come straight back in], but it depends on time. If it's another four weeks, it makes it more difficult.
"But, if anyone is going to break back in, it will be him."
Eade also expects West will play on for a 17th season next year should his body and form hold up.
"With ... what he's done, and his form over the season, I would have thought he'd be thinking about next year," Eade said.
"That's still a way away and a lot can happen at 33 years of age, but I still think Scott has a lot to offer and as we head towards the finals I've got no doubt he'll add something to us."
He also said while the Bulldogs will take confidence from the fact they have already beaten St Kilda this year, there will be notable differences from the round three match come Sunday.
"It's interesting, the draw. We play Brisbane next week and then we play them again in eight weeks time after that," he said.
"I think every team has some sort of anomaly or difference, but that's the way it is and what we have to deal with.
"They'll have five or six players different [from round three], and we'll probably have three, and the circumstances are a little bit different, we're both playing different.
"I think they'll be smarter than that. The thing with St Kilda is that they've been up and down a little bit, but they're still 5-5 and they've got some quality players and they turned it around on the weekend.
"It's going to be a tough game."
