Fremantle midfielder David Mundy says the long-term welfare of Matthew Pavlich and Michael Walters need to be the No.1 priority before deciding whether they should play this week.
Pavlich and Walters are in doubt for Saturday night's AFL clash with Essendon in Perth after being concussed in last week's win over Melbourne.
The duo are two of Fremantle's most important players, but they won't be risked against the Bombers if there are any doubts over their physical state.
"I think Pav and Sonny's mental health moving forward is more important than any one game or any quarter of football," Mundy said.
"So there will certainly be a very careful approach to them this week."
Pavlich is in the greatest doubt given his prior history.
The 33-year-old copped two heavy knocks to the head last year - one of which resulted in a concussion.
Pavlich has played a key role in the team's unbeaten start to the season, but Mundy is confident the depth is there to cover for him if he misses the match.
"We've seen in the last few years without Pav we've managed," Mundy said.
"Chris Mayne has been playing fantastically well at the moment, so we've got no issues there.
"Our depth through the midfield and across our entire team with guys pushing up from (WAFL team) Peel is really spurring our group on.
"We know if we lose one or two soldiers along the way that someone will step into the breach.
"And we understand that if we slip up, there are guys knocking on our door. Tendai Mzungu is a guy who was a regular last year and one of the first picked almost, but he can't get a game at the moment."
Fremantle's star-studded midfield has been a key driver behind the team's surge to top spot.
Nat Fyfe has earned most of the plaudits and is a hot favourite to win the Brownlow Medal.
But Mundy is also in career-best form, with the 29-year-old averaging 28 possessions and seven clearances per game this season.
Domain Stadium holds no fears for Essendon, who have beaten Fremantle in two of the past three meetings at the venue.
But the Bombers' form has been hot and cold this season, making for an unpredictable contest.
"We're certainly not relaxing this week or taking our foot off the gas," Mundy said.
"We'll be on high alert and hoping to play the kind of football that we've displayed in the first five weeks."
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