Ross Lyon knows Ryan Crowley and Freo midfield has big task against Sydney this week

FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon isn't sure who to send Ryan Crowley to this week, but he's got plenty of options.

Ryan Crowley

FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon isn't sure who to send Ryan Crowley to this week, but he's got plenty of options.

The Dockers are hot favourites to win Saturday night's preliminary final against Sydney at Patersons Stadium.

Sydney have been ravaged by injury this season, and will enter the must-win clash without a host of their best players.

But their midfield remains relatively unscathed, and Lyon admits it's an area that could decide the match.

When the two teams last met, Crowley was assigned to Daniel Hannebery.

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Although the 22-year-old Swan won the battle convincingly with 27 possessions and four goals, Fremantle still managed to snatch a draw after fighting back from 27 points down in the final quarter.

Crowley has been rarely beaten this season, and would no doubt love another crack at Hannebery.

But Jarrad McVeigh, Josh Kennedy and Kieren Jack also loom as options for Crowley, who has now established himself as the best tagger in the competition.

Lyon admits he has some thinking to do before deciding on Crowley's opponent, but said his side had to be wary of Sydney's midfield as a whole.

"We are having a good look at them," Lyon said.

"Sometimes it can be a pain because you can watch too much vision.

"Certainly Craig Bird will do a run-with role. Ryan O'Keefe will do a run-with, work-off role.

"Then you've got the attacking Jack and McVeigh.

"And Luke Parker's a unique talent.

It'll be no cakewalk: Lyon

"They've got some exceptional players.

"If we just focus on one or two, the rest will get us.

"We are under no illusions it's going to be a big battle in there."

The Dockers will be boosted by the return of All-Australian defender Michael Johnson, who missed the win over Geelong due to a calf issue.

But Garrick Ibbotson (Achilles tendon) has already been ruled out.

The Swans will be without Kurt Tippett (knee) and Tom Mitchell (ankle), but Ben McGlynn returns from a calf strain.