FREMANTLE defender Luke McPharlin has undergone fitness testing at training on Wednesday as he tries to prove his fitness for the Dockers' clash with the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Sunday. 

McPharlin ruled himself out of last week's match against Essendon before the team was named last Thursday after struggling with calf tightness at training. 

The 2012 All Australian defender has suffered serious calf injuries in each of the last two seasons and coach Ross Lyon explained on Saturday night that while McPharlin had not injured his calf in this case, the tightness he experienced was similar to what had preceded his injuries in previous seasons. 

McPharlin went through a series of sprints away from the main group on Wednesday morning at Fremantle Oval. He spoke with Dockers' sport science manager Jason Weber before running some laps and appeared to be moving reasonably well. 

Matthew Pavlich was also pulled out of the main skills session to run laps. That has been standard practice for both McPharlin and Pavlich at Fremantle's midweek sessions this year as the club continues to manage the veterans. 

Key defender Zac Dawson trained on Wednesday and appears set to return for his first game of the season in the WAFL on Saturday. Lyon confirmed Dawson would have to return via Peel Thunder given he has not played at all this season due to ongoing groin issues throughout the summer. 

The Dockers' squad is reasonably healthy with only Alex Silvagni (hamstring), Michael Apeness (knee), Anthony Morabito (knee) and Ryan Crowley (provisional suspension) out for extended periods. 

Morabito remains permanently absent from Fremantle training as he continues to search for solutions to his ongoing knee issues.

Crowley did not train on Wednesday as he waits for his Anti-Doping Tribunal hearing on May 18.