STAR Fremantle forward Michael Walters will attempt to convince medicos he is ready to return from a knee injury against Sydney, as the Dockers set their sights on a much-improved road performance.
Walters hurt his left knee early in the round six Western Derby, robbing the Dockers of their most threatening goalkicker a week after in-form spearhead Matt Taberner went down with a broken metatarsal.
Freo subsequently booted just four majors in a thumping from reigning premier Richmond at the MCG, before overcoming a disappointing St Kilda outfit by 30 points back at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.
The Dockers have been impressive at their fortress, winning four of their five home games this season, but Ross Lyon's men have been toothless away, averaging just 48 points in three road losses to Port Adelaide, the Giants and Tigers.
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Walters, who led the club's goalkicking with 10 majors before his injury, told 6PR he has been recovering well from an increased training workload.
"I'm pretty good. I've been running for the last week and a half and the knee has popped up pretty good," he said.
But Walters was less than emphatic when asked if he would be back against the Swans.
"Let's just hope so," he said.
"(High performance manager Jason Weber) is pretty ruthless. It depends on what the docs and physios and guys in the gym say, but hopefully I'm back next week.
"You do get a little bit of say. The player is always going to have a strong mind and think that he's good to play.
"I believe I'll be back next week, but it's up to the medicos and fitness staff as well."
The Dockers could also regain smooth-moving Stephen Hill (quad) and damaging half-back Nathan Wilson (back) for the trip to the SCG, where they haven’t won in four attempts under Lyon.
Freo's best effort was a draw in 2013, the year Lyon led the club to the Grand Final.
The rebuilding Dockers were flogged by 104 points in Sydney in round 21 last year.
Speaking after the victory over St Kilda on Saturday night, Lyon challenged his players to improve their shocking road record this year.
The Dockers have lost their three away games by an average of nearly 53 points.
"It's been terrible," Lyon said.
"We don't want to be fair-weather. We want to be mentally tough enough to bring that energy and effort we've been able to produce here.
"We should be able to do that."
At 4-4, the 12th-placed Dockers are in touch with the top eight but they face finals contenders North Melbourne (home), Collingwood (away) and Adelaide (home) in the next month.