Freo says Luke McPharlin likely to play Cats despite being named as an emergency

FREMANTLE expects key defender Luke McPharlin will play in tomorrow's qualifying final against Geelong, despite naming him as an emergency.

FREMANTLE expects key defender Luke McPharlin will play in tomorrow's qualifying final against Geelong, despite naming him as an emergency.

McPharlin, who has missed the past eight weeks with a calf injury, joined his teammates for a recovery session at Eastern Beach in Geelong this morning and completed some light run-throughs with fitness staff.

"We're giving him every chance to get up," Dockers assistant coach Michael Prior said.

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"Obviously we have to see how he pulls up today after training yesterday, he either plays or he doesn't, it doesn't matter if he is named emergency in the side as far as we're concerned.

"We brought him over here with the view that he is going to play, but in saying that we will give him right up until the last minute after a solid session."

Defender Alex Silvagni is considered the player most likely to make way for McPharlin, although Prior would not be drawn on selection issues.

"We're really confident whoever plays in the back six will do the job for us," he said.

Small forward Michael Walters had his knee heavily strapped this morning, but Prior confirmed he would definitely play.

"He trained strongly yesterday, he moved really well," Prior said.

Despite being outspoken in their opposition of a possible final in Geelong last week, Prior said the Dockers had moved on "really quickly" from the AFL's decision.

"Obviously the club were fighting for other venues, but the AFL decided we're playing here so we come down here and play tomorrow and hopefully get a win," Prior said.

The Dockers have won just once at Simonds Stadium in their history - back in 2005 - and were beaten by 41 points when the two teams met in Round 14.

But Fremantle was without a host of key players that day, including Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands.

"We come down here with a lot of confidence," Prior said.

"We've played finals against Geelong and we've got up, obviously last year, so we're down here to win, simple as that. And we think we've got the side and the game plan that is going to get us over the line.

"We've looked really closely at the game in Round 14. There are a few areas we have tinkered with since, we think we have come up with the answers."