FREMANTLE star Nat Fyfe "needs to jump some hurdles" to convince coach Ross Lyon that he's ready for the finals.
Fyfe, suffering shin splints, missed his second game in row on Saturday when a skeletal Fremantle side were ripped apart by non-finalists Port Adelaide.
Lyon expects all players, including Fyfe, to return for Fremantle's home qualifying final.
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"Certainly that is the plan," the coach said after Port's 18.14 (122) to 8.5 (53) win at Adelaide Oval.
But asked if Fyfe's injury would hamper the Brownlow Medal fancy next week, Lyon replied: "I don't know. He needs to jump some hurdles so he's not even picked yet."
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Lyon was disappointed with his team's goalless second term and single-goal final quarter, but said he had coached with an eye on next week.
The Dockers will likely host the Sydney Swans in a qualifying final and are set to regain plenty of star players.
Lyon has a "rough idea" of what his 22 will look like for the first week of finals, but added it could change depending on what the club's opposition throws up at selection.
"The real season starts next week, this is all … no one remembers any of this," Lyon said of Saturday's loss.
"We always care but clearly we had the bigger picture in mind also … [but] those young players would have been really disappointed in me today if I didn't apply myself.
"[Selection is] always horses for courses; we need to go away and assess this performance."
Zac Dawson was a late withdrawal against the Power as he manages a slight groin injury, but Lyon said he'd be available for selection in next week's qualifying final.
Fremantle will also see the return of skipper Matthew Pavlich, Hayden Ballantyne, Michael Walters, Stephen Hill, Chris Mayne, Aaron Sandilands and Michael Johnson to name just a few.