BIG BODIES are set to bolster Fremantle's midfield as the side experiments with its engine room over the NAB Cup competition, according to Brett Peake.

Peake acknowledged that a gruelling pre-season, run by the club's new fitness staff, has seen a number of players improve their aerobic capacity to contribute in ball-winning roles.

David Mundy and Ryan Murphy were used in the centre square during Monday's intra-club match while captain Matthew Pavlich is again expected to drift into the middle when required.

With Paul Hasleby returning from a knee reconstruction and early draft picks Stephen Hill and Nick Suban flagged as eventual midfielders, Peake says the side will have plenty of options this year.

"With a variety of players able to play through there it just helps the team immensely. That's probably something we've lacked previously," Peake told afl.com.au from Fremantle's Telstra AFL Community Camp in Broome.

"Having Murphy, who's played all his football as a key forward, running around like a midfielder is probably a good example of how much the fitness has improved.

"A key forward going into the midfield is pretty amazing and it's only going to benefit the team.

"And when you've got the likes of Pavlich and Mundy running through there, they're pretty big bodies and it just throws another spanner in the works."

Fremantle's strength and conditioning is now overseen by Jason Weber, who was the physical performance coach for the Australian rugby union team.

Peake said the jump in fitness levels was not only encouraged by the new structure but also the players, who were pushing each other through longer sessions in the heat.

The 25-year-old has made his own summer gains after showing plenty of improvement in 2008.

A collarbone injury sidelined Peake for most of 2007 but he returned to play 18 games last year.

"Fair enough to say it's been one of the better pre-seasons I've had," he said. "It's just the way everything has worked out. I've matured a lot over the last six months and I know what I can do and the sort of footy I can play.

"With a good pre-season behind me I just want to give myself every opportunity to play consistent footy.

"Everyone's pushing each other along and I think that's the key that's been missing in years past – we've probably let each other down. But this year we're really pushing it

"We're a different team."