Fremantle pair Alex Pearce and Nat Fyfe are both a chance to return from injury in the Dockers' clash with Carlton on Sunday evening.
Pearce has played 12 games this season, returning from injury in Round 17 against Sydney before being sidelined with a repeat injury, with coach Justin Longmuir saying the club is taking a more conservative route with its skipper.
"I'm confident, more confident than last time, can't say 100 per cent though (that he won't have a recurrence)," Longmuir said.
"The loads of a game are different to the loads you can put him up to at training, so there is always a risk, but I feel like he's done the work and is in a good spot."
Fyfe has played four games this season, most recently in round 16 when he injured his calf, with Longmuir noting the benefits his experience provides without locking in how he'll integrate back into the lineup.
"He offers us a lot as sub with his leadership, maturity and calm presence on the bench, and he's been able to come on as sub and impact with his experience, role play and contest work," Longmuir said.
"At the moment, it looks like our midfield is going well, and we've got a good squad together in there.
"That can change as well, ‘Fyfey' could play, but the main thing is (to get) his body right."
Fremantle currently sits seventh on the table with games against Carlton, Port Adelaide, Brisbane and Hawthorn on the run home.
After a last month fadeout cost the Dockers a finals spot in 2024, Longmuir is confident his side is better placed than last season to return to September.
"We're better placed because of the experience of last year and some of the challenges we've had to go through because of injuries," Longmuir said.
"That's what it's about with a maturing group and younger group – learning from those experiences and next time you're in that situation, you handle it better, and we've shown it with some of the close finishes this year.
"Some of the game situation stuff we've managed our way through successfully."
