Fremantle are set to call on the services of star duo Sean Darcy and Hayden Young as the club counts the cost of Sunday's brave 16-point win over the Western Bulldogs.
Luke Jackson (hamstring), Corey Wagner (calf) and Nathan O'Driscoll (ankle) are all set for scans after suffering injuries in the third quarter of the 15.7 (97) to 12.9 (81) win at Optus Stadium.
Jaeger O'Meara could also join them after struggling with "soreness" late in Sunday's match.
Darcy (ankle/knee) and Hayden Young (hamstring) missed Fremantle's first four games of the season, but they both made a successful playing return for WAFL side Peel Thunder on the weekend.
Fremantle (2-2) take on lowly Richmond (1-3) in Gather Round on Sunday, and coach Justin Longmuir is keen for Darcy and Young to return.
"Sometimes my plans and everyone else's plans are different, but I would like them straight back in," Longmuir said.
"And given we've got a few injuries, maybe that's the way we have to go.
"But we'll weigh that up during the week."
Jackson has been in hot form this year as Fremantle's leading ruckman, averaging 17.3 disposals and 33 hitouts across the opening four rounds, as well as kicking three goals.
"You lose one of the best players in the team, it's obviously disappointing," Longmuir said of the former Demon.
"He had nine score involvements, he was competing his backside off.
"And he's been one of our better players consistently across the first four games, so yeah he's going to leave a hole."
Darcy has played just 27 AFL games across the past two years, leading many to ponder whether he was worth the six-year, big-money contract extension the Dockers handed him at the end of 2023.
Longmuir believes Darcy will again become a force in the competition.
"Let's face it, he's one of the best rucks in the comp," Longmuir said.
"I think (that) gets lost a bit - (he's) not just the one-hit wonder.
"He's been top three rucks in the comp for a fair few years now.
"Last year, we were a better team with him in in team. So he'll give us a lot."
Longmuir said Darcy's fitness was at a decent level despite his interrupted summer, which included him undergoing surgery to remove a screw from his infected ankle.
"I thought he played well (in the WAFL). I thought he was able to run out the game pretty well," Longmuir said.
"He won't be playing 90 minutes in the ruck like he can when he's fully fit.
"But we'll see what sort of minutes he's up for, if he's up for AFL selection."
Nat Fyfe, who played three successive WAFL practice matches in his return from a knee injury, missed last weekend due to knee soreness.
Longmuir indicated Fyfe was likely to be ready to resume playing this week, but at what level remains to be seen.
