BROWNLOW medallist Nat Fyfe is expected to return to full training in coming days but Fremantle is taking a much more cautious approach with new recruit Harley Bennell, according to Dockers football manager Chris Bond. 

The club had nine players in the rehab group that trained away from the main squad on Monday, including Fyfe, Bennell and veteran defender Michael Johnson. 

Both Fyfe and Bennell have hardly trained with the main group this pre-season. Fyfe underwent surgery in the off-season to fix the leg fracture he suffered in the preliminary final last year. He also had a minor issue with his back just prior to Christmas.

But the star midfielder has looked in good condition while running in the rehab group over the last two weeks, and Bond told the club's website on Wednesday that Fyfe was very close to returning to full training. 

"We're expecting Nat to get back into football (the main group) really in the next couple of days," Bond said.

"So that's not too far away from Nat's point of view."

Bennell's return timeframe to the main group however is still unknown. The midfielder has been on light duties in the rehab group doing some low-intensity running and skill work. He had a history of calf issues throughout his five seasons with Gold Coast. 

Bond said the club was taking a very cautious approach with the ex-Sun. 

"We're making sure that from our point of view Harley is going to be a long-term footballer at this footy club," Bond said.

"So we want to make sure his body is conditioned in the right way to not only get through this year but the next number of years. We think he's on track to do that." 

Bond said Johnson was simply being managed given the back and hamstring issues he had suffered in the last two seasons. Johnson has been training with the main group for the majority of the summer. 

Exciting key defender Alex Pearce is making slow progress as he recovers from the shin problems that kept him out of last year's finals campaign.

Pearce has had his running closely monitored by the Dockers' sports science team in recent weeks, but Bond said he did not think the youngster would miss much football this season. 

"He's two-thirds to three-quarters of the way through his rehab program," Bond said.

"We don't think it's going to affect his season too much at all. He's got a huge passion to work and his work through the rehab means that we think he's going to be in pretty good nick.

"He's developed really well over the last couple of years. We've got to remember he's only a third-year player and he's still got some learning and work to do. But his body is adapting to that and he's working really hard." 

Bond said that young key forward Michael Apeness was closing in on a return to the main group after he missed almost all of last season and most of the pre-season to-date due to a knee injury. 

"Michael is getting towards the end of his rehab," Bond said.

"So we're expecting Michael to get back into the football program. We're looking forward to that. He's had a bit of bad luck since he's been here."

The Dockers' first match of the NAB Challenge is against Richmond at Rushton Park in Mandurah on February 19.