FREMANTLE skipper Nat Fyfe doesn't know if Harley Bennell will return to the club next week but hopes the exiled star can still be a "vital" part of the Dockers' line-up this season.
Bennell was sent away to train at Peel on January 9 for at least eight weeks following a nightclub scuffle.
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The 25-year-old's club-imposed suspension could expire by next week, although Bennell has skinfold and other fitness benchmarks he needs to hit before being considered for a return.
Speaking on Friday, Fyfe revealed he hadn't spoken to Bennell since his suspension and doubted any decision to bring the ex-Sun back into the fold would involve the club's leadership group.
"Is that eight-week ban up Monday?" Fyfe asked.
"This is one that is out of the players' and leaders' hands at the moment.
"It is firmly in the hands of the senior coach (Ross Lyon), (CEO) Steve Rosich and (football boss) Chris Bond.
"But when he comes back in – and hopefully he does – he'll be welcomed in and he'll get to work and hopefully be a vital part of our team."
Fyfe expected new leadership group member Bradley Hill and Michael Walters would help integrate Bennell upon his return.
"Harley's got his challenges in front of him," Fyfe said.
"When he comes back he will lean towards players that will have a bigger influence on him.
"In our group, Michael Walters and Brad Hill in particular are guys that he looks up to and has close relationships with.
"Certainly part of my role is to delegate to those two and they'll do what they do from a leadership capacity."
After assuming the captaincy from David Mundy last season, Fyfe believes he has grown as a leader having juggled the extra responsibility with his own battle to regain his best form coming back from a broken leg.
"I learned a lot. I handled some things well and I handled some things potentially poorly," Fyfe said.
"Dealing with personal form and leadership at the same time is quite a juggling act, quite a challenge.
"As the season wore on I felt I got more accustomed to doing that."
In addition to reigning club champion Hill, the Dockers have elevated Alex Pearce into their leadership group - a huge vote of confidence in the returning defender coming back from a twice-broken leg.
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Pearce previously lived with Fyfe and the skipper lauded the 22-year-old's growing maturity during his stint in rehabilitation and ability to set an example for Freo's youngsters.
"He's a fierce competitor. He has a desire to win and improve. Now what the bonus over the past 12 months has done is he wants to improve other people as well and drag other people with him," Fyfe said.
"As well as being a key, pivotal defender for us – one that I think can become a top-five defender in the League in the next two years – there's a leadership element to that as well."
Fyfe will sit out Sunday's practice match against West Coast as the club seeks to manage his load ahead of round one.
