Walters back, Pav and Sandi close

Docker Michael Walters celebrates a goal from a free kick. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon is buoyed by the likely return of gun forward Michael Walters for Sunday's AFL clash with desperate North Melbourne.

And the Dockers are soon to be further boosted by the inclusion of their two biggest names, skipper Matthew Pavlich and ruckman Aaron Sandilands.

Pavlich has not played since round three after undergoing foot surgery, while Sandilands has yet to play this season due to a serious hamstring injury.

Lyon is confident of Walters getting through training this week to take his place and is encouraged with the progress of his two champions.

"Aaron, Matthew and Michael will train today so that's good for the group, and we will assess as they go for the week but Michael would be the only one that could possibly play this week out of the three,'' Lyon said.

"Matthew and Aaron are a couple of sessions closer, but we are going to have to see how the next couple of weeks play out.

"They have really hummed along over the last two weeks and it's in the near future rather than a longer term.

"They've had no hiccups, they've jumped a lot of hurdles and if you ask Matthew he'd want to play next week and Aaron would too.

"We are trying to avoid any hiccup from here so we would be on the conservative side.''

While 13th-placed North Melbourne have won just four games this season, they have also suffered four losses by less than a goal and Lyon insists there is no danger of the Dockers taking them lightly on Sunday.

"They have been exceptional getting hold of the ball and counter-attacking with (Shaun) Atley and (Aaron) Mullett at the back, and we already know about (Scott) McMahon and (Scott) Thompson,'' Lyon said.

''(Sam) Gibson has been fantastic for them as an experienced recruit and then they have their stars (Brent) Harvey, (Daniel) Wells, (Drew) Petrie and (Andrew) Swallow. It's a really big challenge for us, really big.''

Fifth-placed Fremantle have recorded eight wins, two losses and a draw against Sydney so far this year.