Matthew Pavlich missed last Sunday's win over Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium with a sore knee and remains in doubt for the derby, but Rhys Palmer will play again despite the club considering him for knee surgery. Andrew Browne and Roger Hayden also look set to return from injury for Fremantle.
"I think he'll (Pavlich) play, but we will see how he goes on the track. He was terrific two weeks ago and was a bit sore last week, so we will find out the day before the game if he will play or not," McPharlin said.
"I'm sure he'll be desperate to play, though. Obviously you'd love to play with your captain, but for guys to step up in his absence was a real positive. He's (Palmer) pulled up fine considering he missed the week before. He's a terrific young player and seems to be travelling OK, so hopefully he plays the rest of the season."
Winning for the retiring Shaun McManus is a big focus for Fremantle, but McPharlin says the occasion is always one of the hardest fought matches of the year.
"I've played in a few now and it's always an exciting game but I've played in enough of them to enjoy the challenge and not get too nervous. A derby is a unique game in its pressure and atmosphere. You know both teams will bring their best and hopefully we can be better," he said.
"Obviously they'll be disappointed with their season and WA football in general has been disappointing this year. You always like to do better than the guys down the road and we'd like to beat them this weekend, but in the long term we are looking to develop our list and hopefully become a force again."
McPharlin was rivalling Matthew Scarlett as the best full-back in the AFL in the first half of the season, but has been a more permanent forward in the last month and will most likely start there again on Sunday.
"I imagine I'll be starting forward again. We are trying some guys in new positions at the moment and being a bit experimental with these last few games, but I could float back again," he said.
"It's nice to kick a goal, but I've played the majority of my career in defence and I quite enjoy playing a set up role there. There are some benefits to both ends of the ground."
