Fremantle midfielder David Mundy is confident the Dockers can cover for captain Matthew Pavlich if he can't take his place in the side to play Essendon at Domain Stadium on Saturday.
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And past results would suggest that he's right.
Key forward Pavlich has missed 16 games since Ross Lyon took over as coach of the Dockers at the start of the 2012 season. The club has won 12 and drawn one of those games.
In 2013, when the Dockers made it through to the Grand Final, Pavlich missed 13 games due to an Achilles injury and suspension.
Fremantle lost to eventual premier Hawthorn (round four at Aurora Stadium), Geelong (round 14 at Simonds Stadium) and Richmond (round 17 at the MCG) and drew with Sydney at the SCG in round eight.
"We've seen in the last few years without Pav we've managed," Mundy said.
"Chris Mayne has been playing fantastically well at the moment so we've got no issues there.
"Our depth through the midfield and across our entire team with guys pushing up from [WAFL affiliate] Peel is really spurring our group on and so we know we know if we lose one or two soldiers along the way that someone will step into the breach."
Pavlich clashed heads with Melbourne's Colin Garland just before half-time in the Dockers' 68-point win over the Demons. He didn't return after the main break.
Forward Michael Walters was already subbed out of the game by then, having failed a concussion test. He too is in doubt for the clash with the Bombers.
Since the start of 2013, the Dockers have gone to battle without Walters 20 times, losing five times in 2014 and once in 2013.
But Fremantle has won all four games in the past two seasons when they have been without both Pavlich and Walters.
The regularity with which the Dockers midfield players are hitting the scoreboard will make it easier for the only unbeaten side to cover the loss of regular forwards.
Danyle Pearce, Lachie Neale, Nat Fyfe and Stephen Hill have each contributed six goals in the first five rounds of the season. Nick Suban (three), Michael Barlow (three) and David Mundy (two) have also chipped in.
Mundy said the Dockers' midfield machine was ticking along nicely.
"I think a lot of the boys are playing really well and on edge and we understand that if we slip up in our team, there are guys knocking on our door," he said.
"Tendai Mzungu is a guy who was a regular last year and one of the first picked almost; he can't get a game at the moment.
"All of the guys are fully aware of the competition that is coming from below and they are really eager to put their best foot forward – but like anything in life you still have to work hard at it and we have another great challenge this week."
