FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon is confident his side can win without skipper Matthew Pavlich, and is considering sending Brownlow Medal favourite Nat Fyfe forward this week as a replacement.
Pavlich was left out of the 25-man squad for Sunday's clash with North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium with Achilles soreness in his right leg.
The skipper is the club's equal-leading marksman this year with 36 goals and is also ranked No.1 at Fremantle for score assists. But Lyon said he was not worried about losing his superstar this week.
"It's not something I'm overly concerned about," Lyon said on Friday.
"He's a loss. But you lose people all the time. I think our record is very good without Matthew.
"I'd be disappointed to think we can't win without Matthew Pavlich."
The Dockers have lost just three of the last 15 matches Pavlich has missed in the past three seasons.
Lyon insisted the skipper was not being rested. He revealed that Pavlich had a fitness test for a minor quad issue on the day of the round 19 clash with St Kilda at Etihad Stadium. Lyon said that contributed to the Achilles problem.
"He had a slight overload somewhere along the line," Lyon said.
"He got up for last week but he pulled up pretty sore. So we can't play him. Otherwise I would play him."
Lyon said he was hopeful Pavlich would be right for next week against Melbourne, without being confident.
The Dockers' scoring power has been a source of concern for Lyon since round 10 and the coach said he would have to consider his forward options in Pavlich's absence.
"Michael Walters is our best power forward at the minute," Lyon joked.
"Obviously we've got the option of Nat Fyfe as well, Chris Mayne and those sort of guys."
Lyon said he had no issue with playing Fyfe forward if the team needed it but cautioned it was a balancing act given the Brownlow Medal favourite's importance in the midfield.
"To get something you've got to give up something," Lyon said of the prospect of Fyfe heading forward.
"But I think you can have a blend in there.
Alex Pearce can also play forward, with Luke McPharlin and Zac Dawson being available in defence after both missed last week.
Pearce and Fyfe had very light sessions on the track on Friday morning ahead of the trip to Melbourne. Both men were late onto Fremantle Oval and trained away from the main group.
Defender Lee Spurr also underwent some fitness testing before leaving the track early.
The Dockers have played twice at Etihad Stadium this year, notching wins over the Western Bulldogs (round seven) and St Kilda (round 19).
Lyon said the surface was perfect the last time they played there but he was concerned that wasn't the case earlier in the year.
"The last time we were at Etihad, the ground was immaculate," Lyon said.
"The previous time it had been watered and wet under foot on one side and dry as a chip on the other.
"So we've got the expectation that the ground will be in the same condition. Not slippery on one side and dry on the other. So that's our expectation from Etihad management."
