Addressing a poor record at the start of matches is high on Fremantle's to-do list as they continue to try and live up to lofty pre-season expectations.
The Dockers have scraped together two wins in their opening five games, not helped by an 0-5 record in first quarters that has put them repeatedly on the back foot.
Coach Justin Longmuir acknowledged the slow starts are a problem that needs to be addressed, with the Dockers also having been smashed in the first quarter of both the finals they played last season.
In September, they spotted next Friday night's opponent - the Western Bulldogs - a 41-point lead before coming back to win an elimination final that had many believing the Dockers could push even further into the post-season in 2023.
"We need to fix slow starts, so we've tried to trigger (that) internally for a while now," Longmuir said.
"(But) we were eight or 10 points up with three minutes to go in the first quarter (against Gold Coast last weekend), so we actually started pretty well.
"The last probably three weeks the scoreboard hasn't reflected it, so we just need to stick to the process.
"We have a lot of fight in the group and we've got a lot of belief we can come from anywhere and make a game of it."
The Dockers could also do with a lift from star man Andrew Brayshaw, who is taking some time to find his feet in 2023 after a breakout season in which he ran fourth in the Brownlow Medal count.
He managed just 18 touches in last weekend's 10-point win over Gold Coast, although Longmuir said he was another player struggling to reach the heights many predicted for 2023.
"It's been the expectation, we've probably felt it a little bit as a team," he said.
"Individuals have got their own expectations, not only externally but expectations they put on themselves.
"Most footballers are there because they're high achievers and they want to be their best every week. When you don't live up to that it can be a bit of a burden.
"I've seen a really positive, connected version of Andy ... we're starting to see some of his better form."
Longmuir said last week's sub Will Brodie was in consideration to join the starting side against the Bulldogs, although he would not confirm the ball-winner would replace Sam Switkowski, who will miss out with a calf injury.
The coach added he might look to young ruck Luke Jackson to help fellow big Sean Darcy battle the Bulldogs' Tim English.
