Fremantle Dockers coach Justin Longmuir says he's confident Alex Pearce won't re-injure shin as return looms
Pearce has played only once since he sustained the injury in the round 11 win over Port Adelaide, returning against Sydney in round 17 before feeling pain at training and being sidelined since.
The 30-year-old trained strongly at Cockburn on Wednesday as he looks to prove his fitness and take on the Blues as finals approach.
Longmuir said he was 'more confident than last time' that Pearce would not have another setback with the hotspot in his shin.
'I can't say 100 per cent though. The loads of a game are a lot different to the loads you can put him up to at training,' he said.
'There's always that risk but we feel like he's done the work and he's in a good spot.'
Longmuir denied they brought the captain back too early to tackle the Swans despite him being unable to stay on the park.
'We're guided by the medicos on that, but he just didn't handle the loads of the game,' he said.
'I wouldn't say we brought him back too early it's just that steep up in loads that caught him our and set him back.
'We've probably been a little bit more conservative this time. So that should hold him in good stead.'
It comes as Fremantle face a tricky situation around former skipper and dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe who is on track to return from a hamstring injury.
The 33-year-old has not been named in a team since he was the unused sub in the round 16 win over St Kilda, sustaining the injury as he attempted to warm-up.
However, the Dockers midfield is firing and the return of star Hayden Young from hamstring surgery has only added more firepower alongside vice-captains Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong.
Fyfe trained alongside the midfielders on Wednesday as he looks to earn a spot back in the side, with replacing Neil Erasmus as the sub the most likely option.
Longmuir hinted that Fyfe would be the perfect sub once again as they head towards September.
'It could be a number of different roles. He offers us a lot as sub with his leadership, maturity, his calm presence on the bench and he's been able to come on as a sub and impact through the middle of the ground with his experience, role play and contest work,' he said.
'At the moment it looks like our midfield is going well and we've got a good squad together un there but that could change as well.
'I am open to a variety of different roles that Fyfey could play but the No.1 thing is to get his body right and confidence in his body.'
Defender-turned midfielder Corey Wagner was not spotted on the track as he battles a heel injury, while ruckman Luke Jackson is believed to be in Melbourne for a funeral.
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