Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is hopeful Luke Jackson's body is strong enough to handle the No.1 ruck mantle in the absence of big man Sean Darcy.
Darcy will miss at least the next two games after injuring his right ankle in last week's 46-point AFL loss to Collingwood.
Jackson, who has played predominantly as a forward this year, endured hip soreness when he was forced to lead the ruck in Darcy's absence earlier this season.
If Longmuir wants to keep Jackson up forward, he has the option of handing 23-year-old rookie ruckman Liam Reidy an AFL debut for Saturday night's clash with Sydney in Perth.
But Longmuir is confident Jackson will be able to handle the bulk of the ruck duties if needed.
"Some of the (previous) concerns were caused off the back of his spike in ruck loads," Longmuir said of Jackson's hip complaint from earlier this season.
"He went from being a second ruck and doing minimal ruck while playing mostly forward, to all of ruck. It was a big jump, which he wasn't used to.
"This time, hopefully, he's used to it. He's already been through it and he's had that taste for being the No.1 ruck, and his body is up to it."
Reidy, who is listed at 204cm and 104kg, tallied 39 hitouts and seven disposals in his most recent WAFL hitout.
"He probably started the year a little bit slow. He's (had) a few hiccups along the way," Longmuir said of Reidy, who was pick No.11 in the 2023 rookie draft.
"But he's had some consistency over the last three or four weeks, which is going to put him in the discussion (for a senior call-up this week).
"Physically (he's ready). It's just a matter of whether the craft is up to the level to be able to give us the best opportunity to succeed around clearance and compete the way we want to compete.
"Clearly Luke (Jackson) is our second-best ruck on the list, we just have to weigh up whether he's best served in the ruck or forward."
Defender Brandon Walker will miss the rest of the season with a serious patella tendon problem in his right knee, while fellow backman Brennan Cox is still sidelined by an ankle injury.
But Hayden Young (ankle) and Michael Frederick (soreness) are set to return against the Swans, along with star midfielder Caleb Serong (suspension).
Defender Heath Chapman, who has been sidelined since round three with soft-tissue injuries, is on track to play some minutes in the WAFL this weekend.
