FREMANTLE could finally have the chance to unleash veteran Aaron Sandilands and protégé Sean Darcy together again, with both ruckmen in the mix to face Essendon on Saturday.
Dockers coach Ross Lyon has wanted to trial the master and apprentice in the same side all season, but Darcy's posterior cruciate ligament injury and Sandilands' calf setback has derailed those plans.
But the big men are listed as tests for the trip to take on the Bombers at Etihad Stadium.
Darcy has escaped with only a minor groin complaint from Sunday's upset of Port Adelaide, while Sandilands is expected to be fit after missing the past three matches.
"Sean came off with a groin injury quite late against Port Adelaide," high performance manager Jason Weber said.
"Obviously, it gave him a bit of a fright given he's come off quite a significant knee injury, but he's progressed really well through the medical hoops this week.
"He'll be a test and we're hoping to have him available for selection come the end of the week.
"Aaron continues to progress in his rehab. He'll be a test late into the week, but he looks up and about and ready to go."
The duo's availability is a positive for Freo after losing Michael Apeness for the season.
Scott Jones performed encouragingly against the Power after luckless Apeness was dropped and then severely damaged his hamstring at Peel.
The only match Sandilands and Darcy have played together was round 15 last year, when the 35-year-old lasted just 18 minutes before suffering a season-ending hamstring tendon tear.
Their pairing on the run home would give Fremantle an insight ahead of next season, should warhorse Sandilands play on for a 17th, and almost certainly final, campaign.
Lyon believes the 211cm behemoth's form warrants going around again in 2019.
Meanwhile, superstar Nat Fyfe is still three-to-four weeks away after suffering a hamstring strain in three games ago.
The earliest the skipper might return is likely to be the round 20 Western Derby.
"Nat's progressing along the lines of where we thought he might," Weber said.
"He's up and running, training very well with a great attitude. He's continuing to act like a captain should but he's a few weeks away yet."
Freo could regain young gun Andrew Brayshaw (groin) and small forward Hayden Ballantyne (ankle) in round 19 against Hawthorn.
Spearhead Matt Taberner is expected back in two weeks after fracturing his foot in round five.
Forgotten star Harley Bennell is closing in on his long-awaited comeback game after being named Peel's best player with 19 disposals and a goal on Saturday.
The former Gold Coast star has managed eight WAFL appearances this year and could be a chance to play his third game for the Dockers in three seasons against Essendon.
