FREMANTLE defender Steven Dodd is confident his side can get the better of West Coast in this Saturday's Western Derby and will enter the game as the hunter after two losses to start the season.

In falling to Collingwood and Hawthorn, criticism has come from far and wide after the Dockers again promised so much over the pre-season. However, Dodd is adamant the club will find its form this weekend.

"We have been disappointing the last couple of weeks, but have shown signs of improvement against two quality sides," he said. "We haven’t been blown off the park and that's a positive that we can bring into this week.

"We always have a good contest against the Eagles, they still have a premier midfield and we will be the hunters this week up against them. We have had the wood over the Eagles the last two times we've played and we fire up for the game. I'm really looking forward to it.

"The win is just around corner, we believe that internally and we aren’t losing the faith at all. We have to keep sticking to our structures and the win will come."

Despite outside pressure mounting on players to perform, including forward Chris Tarrant, Dodd doesn’t expect to see many changes this week. Should they be made, the selectors may consider Rob Warnock, Paul Duffield and Luke Webster, who have all been in good touch in the WAFL.

While Tarrant's form has been heavily scrutinised, Dodd believes delivery to the former Pie is largely to blame.

"Harvs (Mark Harvey) wants to steady the side down to get everyone playing their position and knowing their role in the side, so I don’t think there will be too many changes," he said.

"We need him playing well and we need to give him every opportunity to do that. We haven’t done that the last couple of weeks with our delivery to the forward line and his work rate has been as good as any. We've let him down and have to get better at kicking it to him."

Ruckman Aaron Sandilands has controlled hit-outs in the first two games, but the Dockers have been beaten in clearances. Dodd believes it's simply a matter of being more prepared to take the hit and keeping hold of the ball.

"We have to work on our structures and try to get our hands on it first after Aaron wins the knock," he said. "The opposition seems to be reading our taps well and that’s something we need to work on before this week.

"We are going to where Aaron's hitting it, but the opposition is tackling us straight away and, when the ball spills out, they seem to capitalise and take control of the ball. We just have to get tougher in the contest."