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Fremantle recruit Blake Acres will play in a scratch match this weekend while he builds up form and fitness following two leg injuries.
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has decided against risking recruit Blake Acres for Sunday's bottom-of-the-table clash with Adelaide.
Acres was a standout performer for Fremantle during the pre-season, with the former Saint tallying 31 possessions, six inside 50s and six clearances in a practice match against Carlton.
A serious hamstring injury at training ruled him out of the start of the home-and-away campaign, and his return was further delayed when he tweaked his calf on the eve of the season restart.
Acres is now fully recovered, but Longmuir will play him in a scratch match this weekend instead of at AFL level.
"He probably needs a run. He's been out with that hamstring injury and now calf injury for a while," Longmuir said.
"So we'll look to give him some minutes in the reserves. I think it's best for his preparation and resilience going forward.
"We hope he comes to hand pretty quick. He showed in the pre-season he's going to be a really handy pick up for us.
"Having someone who can accumulate possessions and run those wing patterns would be really handy for us.
"We've just got to make sure we get some AFL fitness into him and get some form into him as well."
Longmuir has called for a team effort in the midfield to cover the loss of injured captain Nat Fyfe (hamstring).
Connor Blakely is a strong chance to earn a recall in place of Fyfe, while Longmuir is excited to see how the likes of Andrew Brayshaw, Adam Cerra, and Caleb Serong cope with the extra responsibility.
Fremantle and Adelaide are the only two winless sides this year.
But while the Dockers have been close to winning three of their four matches, the Crows have been a rabble since the season restart.
Losses to Port Adelaide (75 points), Gold Coast (53 points) and Brisbane (37 points) have seen the Crows slump to last on the ladder with a woeful percentage of 51.9.
Longmuir saw signs of the Crows finding some form during their third-quarter fightback against the Lions last week, and he's expecting a tough contest.