Fremantle's dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe is likely to be scratched from playing this weekend after suffering soreness in his troublesome knee.
Fyfe, who had arthroscopic surgery on a knee in January, returned to action in state league ranks last weekend.
But Dockers coach Justin Longmuir said the 33-year-old hadn't fully recovered from that match and was likely to be rested this weekend.
"He's close to being AFL-ready but unfortunately he's just pulled up a little bit sore this week in that knee," Longmuir told reporters on Thursday.
"At this stage I don't think we will see him at any level (this weekend) ... it's not significant but he may need a week off.
"We expected this could happen to some degree when we lifted his loads.
"He played his first full game on the weekend and it's probably the first time he's really unleashed his strength, run and all those types of things and let himself go and he's just pulled up a little bit sore."
Longmuir also ruled out ruckman Sean Darcy from making his AFL return against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.
Darcy, who like Fyfe hasn't featured at AFL level this season, is recovering from ankle and knee injuries.
"Sean is going to play WAFL," Longmuir said.
"It's a vital step for him with his fitness, strength and ruck craft to be able to play at that level first before we put him on the big stage.
"It will be a good stepping stone for him."
Influential on-baller Hayden Young was in the frame to return from his hamstring injury, but was not in the extended squad when teams were named on Thursday.
"We've got no doubt he could probably play AFL but we need to think a bit longer term with this," Longmuir said.
James Aish has been omitted, with Jaeger O'Meara back after missing the derby win over West Coast through illness.
Corey Wagner, Liam Reidy and Will Brodie were named on an extended interchange bench.
The Dockers, with one win from three games, host the Bulldogs (two wins, one loss) at Optus Stadium.
