FREMANTLE has breathed a sigh of relief after scans revealed gun forward Michael Walters' knee injury is not as bad as initially feared.

Walters could only miss two or three games, instead of a month, while the Dockers received more positive news with injury-plagued Harley Bennell finally in the mix to return at Peel from his latest calf setback.

Walters went down in the opening term of the Western Derby, leaving the Dockers short on firepower after spearhead Matt Taberner fractured his foot the previous round against the Bulldogs.

But Freo's three-time leading goalkicker might only miss engagements with Richmond and St Kilda, and potentially a trip to Sydney in round nine.

"With Michael’s knee, there was originally concern for his PCL which he injured last year. That hasn’t been the case," high performance manager Jason Weber told fremantlefc.com.au.

"He’s injured a small ligament that supports his knee cap, so he’ll be progressed now as his symptoms warrant. 

"We’re hoping for two to three weeks for his return."

Bennell will be put through his paces in main training this week in a bid to play his first game this season.

The 25-year-old suffered the latest in a long history of calf setbacks in February while he was training at Peel on a club-imposed suspension and was only expected to require a three-week rehabilitation.  

Pressure forward Brady Grey could also be back for the Thunder, which has lost three on the trot, this Saturday against Claremont. 

The Dockers are hoping to regain Walters, Griffin Logue (foot), Lee Spurr (knee), Sean Darcy (knee) and Hugh Dixon (ankle) back from injury within the next month.  

However, there are concerns about Doig medallist Bradley Hill, who is not yet back running on ground due to knee pain.  

Hill almost ruptured his ACL against Essendon in round two and Freo hoped he would only miss one match, however the line-breaking wingman doesn't currently have a timeframe to return.

"Brad’s progressed his running to supported treadmill running and we’ll continue along that path as symptoms permit," Weber said.

Taberner is looking at a couple of months on the sidelines and still in a moonboot, yet to progress to the next phase of his recovery. 

Meanwhile, pacy small forward Sam Switkowski suffered a setback with his hamstring at training and will be out of action for "a number of weeks".

Fremantle travels to take on Richmond at the MCG, where the Tigers have won their past 12 matches, this Sunday.