WEAR and tear will eventually catch up with Aaron Sandilands, but Fremantle coach Ross Lyon is banking on the veteran ruckman standing up while protege Sean Darcy is sidelined.
Sandilands would have sat out last round's long trip to take on GWS in Canberra had Darcy been available, but the hulking youngster could be facing up to two months on the sidelines after a PCL injury.
Lyon doesn't believe draftees Lloyd Meek or Scott Jones, or injury-plagued Michael Apeness, are ready to fill the void if Sandilands takes a rest, and the 35-year-old will line-up against Bulldogs youngster Tim English this Saturday night.
"We had it banked that Sean Darcy would've played last week regardless of how we were going and Aaron wouldn't go," Lyon said.
"We lost Sean, and it's not fair just to throw in some people who aren't quite ready.
"It's been disappointing. Sean, this morning, he is going to go home for a week, connect with his family and come back and get stuck into his rehab.
"We need him playing senior footy. Where we're at, we'd like to experiment with both of them, but the whole summer we haven't had that chance.
"(Sandilands) feels in pretty good shape … but at some point the wear and tear will get to him.
"He's a magnificent warrior for us but we need to do it, but it's a matter of when."
The Dockers will be desperate for Sandilands to play in Sunday week's Western Derby, when a date with West Coast's spring-heeled Nic Naitanui and sidekick Scott Lycett awaits.
Doig medallist Bradley Hill is also keen to play against the Eagles, but Lyon admits the speedy wingman's timeframe to return is up in the air.
Hill failed to train on Tuesday and will be sidelined for a third consecutive match due to bone bruising in his knee suffered against Essendon in round two.
"He's sorer than we would've liked. He felt ready to run (at training), ready to go, he said 'I'm playing this week', and then it was a bit sorer," Lyon said.
"It can be uncertain with that level of bone bruising how long it can take.
"We're still optimistic it could be next week, but if it's the week after we think we've shied-away from 12 months (rehabilitation) and been really lucky.
"There's nothing you can do to speed it up.
"He's so fit, fitness won't be a concern, but they're so important Brad and Ed (Langdon) to our long run that we're pretty keen to have him back."
Langdon is likely to return after missing the Giants loss due to illness, while Lyon confirmed tall forward Matt Taberner would be available after battling soreness.
Rangy 192cm rebounding defender Taylin Duman, who Lyon described as another classy ball user from half-back, is in the mix to debut after being named as an emergency the past two weeks.
Lyon said the club's four first-year players – Andrew Brayshaw, Adam Cerra, Bailey Banfield and Mitch Crowden – would "keep going" despite the physical load of AFL zapping some of their run.
