FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon says he doesn't need to tank as the Dockers' best efforts this year have left them winless after eight rounds. 

The club has gone from minor premiers and preliminary finalists last season to anchoring the bottom of the ladder two months into 2016.

They are still only third-favourite with the bookmakers to win the wooden spoon behind Essendon and the Brisbane Lions.

Lyon stated after round seven that winning was no longer an immediate priority, instead placing an emphasis on improving and developing the playing and coaching group.

Match preview: Fremantle v Richmond

He said on Thursday he was not concerned by speculation about the integrity of the teams the Dockers were selecting.

"That's just talk," Lyon said. 

"I just engage myself with the responsibility to the job. I sit here really comfortable. 

"I don't think we have to tank - we've been trying our hardest and we're 0-8.

"That puts a pretty fine point on it, doesn't it?"

AFL football operations boss Mark Evans told 3AW on Tuesday that he had no problem with Dockers veteran Matthew Pavlich being rested last week. 

"The club is within its rights to manage its players to get through a season," Evans said. 

"With someone like Matthew Pavlich, I think that's entirely appropriate."

Pavlich is set to return this week to face Richmond on Saturday night.

Lyon is confident midfielder Stephen Hill will also play. Hill suffered some adductor tightness in the third term last week against Hawthorn but scans cleared him of any injury.

Hill, Lachie Weller (calf) and Hayden Ballantyne (cork) all underwent some agility testing at training on Thursday but appeared to get through without too many issues. 

Tom Sheridan is also set to return to the side after he was a late withdrawal from the loss to Hawthorn with illness.