Palmer has played five WAFL games as he returns from a serious knee injury, and Harvey said his performances at that level suggest he is ready to return for Fremantle.
Fremantle will also be forced to drop at least one rookie from the side with Tim Ruffles coming off the long-term injury list and resuming in the WAFL and Scott Thornton possibly joining him.
Rookies Alex Sivagni and Jay van Berlo have played every game this season, while Matt de Boer (three games) and Clancee Pearce (two) have been a part of the side in recent weeks.
“We are going to make a couple of changes,” Harvey said in a joint press conference with West Coast coach John Worsfold on Thursday.
“We have to make decisions on our rookies, and perhaps we've got another player or two that have been good at WAFL level.”
Harvey said if Palmer did resume this week, following an outstanding 31-possession, two-goal game for East Fremantle, he would fill a midfield role.
“You have to be spot on and sharp when you come back into this game because you can't carry guys that are coming back from injury,” Harvey said.
“Rhys is a terrific player, he plays with a lot of pride, so it will be hotly debated at selection.
“If he plays it would be in the midfield, where he plays his best.”
West Coast coach John Worsfold said Palmer’s selection would not alter his side’s plans.
“I don’t know what their selection debate is going to be but we would suspect he's very close to coming in,” Worsfold said.
Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands has been the form big-man of the competition this season, but after playing an average of 92 per cent game time in five matches, Harvey said ruck support had to be considered this week.
West Coast ruckman Dean Cox is returning to form, and Nic Naitanui has been one of West Coast’s bright lights so far.
“It would be fair to say they’re one of the best combinations going around, their ruck department,” Harvey said.
“There will be some stages where we have to play a second ruckman, a genuine ruckman.”
