Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is optimistic Nat Fyfe remains on track to play in AFL round one despite the skipper being ruled out of Sunday's pre-season clash with West Coast.
Fyfe's pre-season has been heavily affected by the shoulder reconstruction he underwent last year and subsequent infection.
The two-time Brownlow medallist has been building steadily since the Christmas break, but he fell just short of being given the green light to play in the club's final pre-season hitout.
"There was strong consideration on playing Fyfey for a half but there's a couple of markers that he hasn't quite reached with his strength in that shoulder," Longmuir said on Friday.
"We expect him to make some really good progress on that over the next couple of weeks and it doesn't change our thoughts with him for round one. But he's going to miss this week."
Longmuir will "get creative" next week in a bid to get Fyfe battle hardened in time for the round one clash with Adelaide on March 20.
"He's an experienced campaigner, his fitness is at an elite level, he's just got to pick up a couple of markers in his strength in that shoulder," Longmuir said.
"It's a long season so we decided not to risk it this week.
"He's done a lot and he's been in full training for a couple of weeks. (Match practice) is hard to replicate though. It's not the same as a game, you don't get the same collision at 360 (degrees)."
Fyfe had his knee bandaged on Friday, but Longmuir said they were just old battle wounds that the 30-year-old would continue to deal with.
Fremantle belted West Coast by 97 points last week, and they'll welcome back David Mundy, Sean Darcy, Luke Ryan and Michael Walters for the rematch.
Longmuir said Mundy and Walters would play a full game.
Midfielder Darcy Tucker will miss again with a hamstring injury, and he might be squeezed out of the side for round one even if he can prove his fitness in time.
Sunday's pre-season match was originally set to be played at Fremantle Oval, but it has since been moved to Optus Stadium and will now be a lockout.
