Fremantle are confident skipper Alex Pearce's knee scare isn't anything to worry about, but young gun Murphy Reid may miss another week due to a corkie in the worst possible region.
Pearce slumped to the turf in pain after copping a knock to his heavily-strapped left knee during the third quarter of Friday night's minor premiership-securing 24-point win over Adelaide.
Although Pearce was able to play out the match, he was hobbled for several minutes and didn't look like he had full confidence in his knee.
Dockers coach Justin Longmuir is confident Pearce won't be hampered by the scare going forward.
"It just looks like he's got a knock on it," Longmuir said after the 16.16 (112) to 13.10 (88) win in front of 55,010 fans at Optus Stadium.
"Sometimes you get a stinger to the front of your kneecap and it hurts for a little bit, and he was able to run it out.
"By the end of the game he was fine. And he's fine in the change rooms, which is a relief."
Fremantle (19-3) sealed the minor premiership with the 16.16 (112) to 13.10 (88) victory, meaning the Dockers can afford to rest Pearce from next week's clash with Carlton in Melbourne.
But given Pearce had already been rested from last week's four-point loss to Melbourne, Longmuir is reluctant for the inspirational skipper to miss another match so soon, especially with Fremantle to also be out of action during the wildcard round.
"We're on an eight-day break right? So, if he's right to go, he'll play," Longmuir said.
"He had a week off last week, so I don't really want to go week off, week on, and then another two weeks off. "So if he's right, which it looks like he will be, he'll play."
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Reid is in big doubt to take on the Blues as he continues to deal with the blow to the testicles he copped against the Demons.
"He's going to be touch and go for next week. He's had some specialist advice, and we'll see how he ges this week," Longmuir said. "It's not going to be long term, but if it costs him another week, so be it.
"He's played a lot of footy for us, and I don't think another week will hurt him." So how would Longmuir sum up the injury?
"It's pretty much a corky," Longmuir said.
"It shows a lot of how tough he is. Everyone talks about his skill, but to play through that last week was a really tough effort. He's a tough little bugger."
Fremantle's win against Adelaide secured them just the second minor premiership in the club's history.
But with Longmuir fully focused on winning the flag, he said the minor premiership wouldn't be celebrated.
"You don't get anything for the minor premiership. We don't hang banners up like they do in the States for that sort of stuff," Longmuir said.
"We've put ourselves in a good position, and there's still plenty of work ahead."
