Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has confirmed that electric forward Michael Frederick will return to the side this weekend against the Blues after serving a club-imposed one-match suspension.
The 22-year-old has kicked 15 goals in 11 matches this year, becoming an important cog in the Dockers' forward line set up and his return comes at the perfect time with small forward Sam Switkowski set to miss weeks with a stress fracture in his back.
"(Frederick) will come back into the side. He's handled this situation really maturely and he's trained really well over the past couple of weeks and he's ready to come back in," Longmuir toldย 7NEWS.
Key forward Matt Taberner is also a chance to return for the Dockers this weekend after playing for Peel against East Perth during Fremantle's bye week, kicking 3.2.
Taberner has had an injury-riddled year so far, playing just six games but has kicked 14 goals for the side and his return will give the premiership hopefuls an offensive boost.
Longmuir saidย that the club will monitor the 29-year-old's training this week before making a decision on his availability.
"We're still working through (when Taberner will return). We're trying to work out what's best for Tabs," he said.
"He's a really important player for us and we want to make sure we get him some continuity, and where that's one game or two games at Peel, we'll just work through that after main training tomorrow."
Despite the Docker's hopes, Taberner has since been unable to complete training at Cockburn, placing him in some doubt for this weekend.
Despite his most recent back injury, Longmuir remains confident thatย Switkowski will play again this season despite the club not putting a timeframe on his recovery.
"It will be further down the track, we haven't put anything on his timeframe yet because the first four weeks of this injury are really important," Longmuir said.
"He's going to recover for the next three to four weeks and then we'll reassess from there and that will say a lot.
"We expect him to play footy again this year but we're unsure of the timeframe at this stage."
The Dockers coach also said the club are hopeful that wingman Blake Acres' hamstring injury will hamper him in the short term.
Acres is having a career-best year on the wing for Fremantle, averaging 21.1 disposals and 5.8 marks per game but suffered the injury in the last quarter against Hawthorn in Round 13.
Longmuir said that the club have reinforcements for the wing position in Acres' absence.
"(The injury is in) a bit of a tricky space in that hamstring, so we're going to have to be a little bit careful in those initial stages," he said.
"He's bounced back pretty quickly and he's back running, which is a good sign.
"We've got some good options (on the wing). Darcy Tucker was sub against Hawthorn, he's played on the wing and did really well on the weekend for Peel. Liam Henry's strung some games together as well. We've got some players in good form in that role."
Midfielder
Disposals
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Clearances
Speaking to the media earlier today, Longmuir also said the club will look to build up superstar Nat Fyfe's midfield minutes in the coming weeks as he makes his return from shoulder and back injuries.
"We'll probably look to get his midfield minutes up as the season progresses, but I was happy with his first up performance. I expect his touch and his execution to step up a notch."
Fremantle will face Carlton at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon (1:45 AEST) in what will be a hugely important match, with the opportunity for the Dockers to keep up the pace with Brisbane and Melbourne at the summit of the ladder.
