FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon has no interest in the venue for this Saturday's qualifying final.
Much of the dialogue in the lead-up to the Dockers’ first final has surrounded the AFL's decision to schedule it at Simonds Stadium in Geelong but Lyon believes that has no bearing on what his side needs to do.
"It's got a couple of goal posts, a couple of point posts and white marked boundaries," Lyon said.
"I haven't seen the ground get a kick yet. I haven't seen the crowd get a kick yet."
"We’re going to have to ask some serious questions of the Geelong Football Club [and prove] that we’re an elite pressure team, an elite defensive team.
"They are an up-tempo, high-use, high-possession team. It’s a threat to us, but also a wonderful opportunity, so we’ll get asked some serious questions [ourselves]."
The Cats have won 43 of their last 44 games at Simonds Stadium but have never hosted a final at the venue in its 73 years as their home ground.
The Dockers have won just once at the ground in 13 attempts and were beaten by 41-points in round 14 this season.
"We learnt a lot of valuable lessons there," Lyon said of that game.
"We made some adjustments and we've continued to adjust how we've played all year to continue to improve.”
Clancee Pearce and Garrick Ibbotson are both unavailable this week with Pearce ruled out for the season after tearing his Achilles.
Lyon could make up to 12 changes from the side that lost to St Kilda last Saturday.
Luke McPharlin could return for his first game since tearing his calf round 15.
"At this stage he's got a couple of sessions to work through yet," Lyon said.
The coach was confident Michael Walters, Nic Suban and Stephen Hill would overcome their niggling injuries.
He was also pleased with the decision he made to rest Nathan Fyfe, Michael Johnson, Hayden Ballantyne, Chris Mayne, Zac Clarke, David Mundy, Lee Spurr and Zac Dawson after seeing Richmond's Jake King on Sunday morning after the Tigers win over Essendon.
"He was hobbling around, and I thought 'gee, it's a brutal game', and that was just general soreness," Lyon said.
"So that's what they avoided for the week those guys – that general soreness."
Lyon was cagey when asked if tagger Ryan Crowley would be sent to his traditional oppponent Joel Selwood after he kept the Geelong captain to just 13 touches in the round 14 clash.
"It's a possibility. He's a pretty good player Joel," Lyon said.
"Ryan did a really solid job on him last time under real adversity. But they're a highly talented midfield."
