Fremantle coach Ross Lyon will ensure that no complacency creeps in from his players this Saturday against his former team St Kilda, but pressure for spots come finals time should naturally take care of that anyway.
Fremantle won their eighth straight match to move to second on the AFL ladder following Sunday's 76-point win over the GWS Giants at Patersons Stadium.
The Dockers take on the bottom-placed St Kilda this Saturday at Etihad Stadium but with plenty of pressure on for spots, there will be no signs of Fremantle taking the game lightly.
All-Australian defender Luke McPharlin could return from a calf complaint with Stephen Hill, Garrick Ibbotson and Michael Walters due back soon.
Matt de Boer, Tom Sheridan, Jonathon Griffin, Hayden Crozier, Sam Menegola, Jacob Ballard and Brady Grey have been performing well in the WAFL with Peel Thunder.
Small forward Hayden Ballantyne might be out of the side if suspended for a behind-the-play hit to Tomas Bugg, but Colin Sylvia, Clancee Pearce, Chris Mayne and Cameron Sutcliffe are no certainties to hold their places.
Lyon is happy with where his team sits but sees plenty of challenges in the run home against St Kilda, Carlton, Geelong, Hawthorn, Brisbane and Port Adelaide.
"We'd rather be there (second position) than not," Lyon said.
"Our ability to sustain effort over long periods has been pleasing, but we've got some significant challenges that lay ahead.
"In our run home, Hawthorn sit there, Port sit there, Carlton, Geelong and there's some pretty significant challenges coming our way. But if you are any good you have to accept them and beat them."
One player who will continue to receive opportunities is Anthony Morabito who played his second straight game as the substitute on Sunday after returning from a horror run of knee injuries.
He received a standing ovation from the Fremantle faithful when he entered the game late in the third quarter to replace Clancee Pearce, and impressed over the next 40 minutes with 15 possessions and now Lyon could start him against St Kilda.
"The roar when he came on was fantastic. I thought he played strongly and he will play again next week," Lyon said.
"I think to be fair we have really handled Anthony well as a club. Everyone got ahead of themselves and tried to bully us into picking him, but we pick a team when we are ready.
"Then Anthony played so that was nice and we think we've really progressed him nicely. I think he's more ready for a full game next week than he was this week."
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