FREMANTLE defender Michael Johnson has been ruled out of Saturday's qualifying final with Geelong due to calf tightness.
Johnson was named in the All Australian 40-man squad earlier this week but despite being rested from the Dockers 71-point loss to St Kilda last Saturday, the 28-year-old did not travel with the team on Thursday.
Fremantle stoppage coach Mark Stone says the loss of Johnson is a big blow, but the risk was too great given the Dockers have the double chance.
"It's just a little bit of tightness in the calf and given the history of our calves we've been really cautious with him," Stone said.
"It's not a serious injury but we have to be really careful with it.
"He's been so good for us, not only in defence, but attacking as well.
"It's a big loss. But we have to take a cautious approach with him and make sure he's right next week."
Luke McPharlin did take his place on the chartered flight to Avalon and is expected to play his first match since tearing his calf in round 15 against St Kilda.
"Luke's back, which is great news," Stone said.
"He trained really strongly today, and he's got a really good bulk of conditioning behind him.
"We back our conditioners and the program they've put him on.
"He's confident. So barring any soreness tomorrow - if he wakes up sore we'll have to rethink it - but other than that he'll play."
The Dockers look set to recall 11 players missing from last week's loss, with McPharlin, Hayden Ballantyne, Nick Suban, Michael Walters, Nat Fyfe, David Mundy, Chris Mayne, Stephen Hill, Zac Clarke, Zac Dawson and Lee Spurr all travelling.
There is rain forecast in Geelong on Saturday and Stone says wet weather holds no fears for the Dockers.
"We think we go pretty well in the wet," Stone said.
"We beat Adelaide over at AAMI earlier in the year in the wet and we beat North Melbourne in the wet, so it doesn’t really change us too much and whatever conditions present we just take it on the day."
The Dockers only victory in 13 visits to Simonds Stadium came on a cold wet day in May 2005.
