Fremantle are set to be without their captain for Sunday's Round 1 clash with Adelaide.
Dockers star Nat Fyfe, who has battled ongoing setbacks with a hindered shoulder, is understood to be under another injury cloud after suffering a knee complaint.
Fyfe's fitness has been well documented throughout the pre-season, having had his 2021 campaign curtailed due to shoulder surgery, which was further hampered after an infection arose in the wake of the operation.
Having been cleared by club medicos for his shoulder, The West Australian reports a knee injury is set to see the veteran midfielder miss the first season opener since his debut campaign 12 years ago.
It is understood that the injury is only set to sideline the 30-year-old for the one match, with Fyfe anticipated to return to Justin Longmuir's side for the Dockers' Round 2 bout with St Kilda the following Sunday.
“It’s going to be a little bit touch and go I suppose, but we’re still holding out hope that he’ll make it (for round one),” Longmuir told Channel 10 earlier this week. .
“His shoulder’s in good order. (His knee) is just an old war wound really. He’s had a bit of trouble with it in the past. It’s not a big deal, but it just takes a little bit of time to settle sometimes.
“We put such a high price on round one, but if he misses round one he’ll be hopefully there for round two. He’ll be playing early in the year, so Freo fans can hang onto that.”
Fremantle will already be without two-time club leading goalkicker Matt Taberner for this weekend's Crows game after the Dockers spearhead sustained a hamstring injury.
Fellow tall Rory Lobb is also battling injury ahead of Round 1, with the ex-Giant having suffered a chest complaint in recent weeks.
The Dockers' midfield has already been depleted since the cessation of last season, having seen gun onballer Adam Cerra depart to Carlton.
With Fyfe absent, veteran David Mundy and emerging stars Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong are sure to do the heavy lifting.
Fremantle will be seen as favourites over the Crows despite the losses to key personnel, with their match at Adelaide Oval to begin at 4:10pm AEDT.