Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has again embraced a controversial resting policy in the final round of the season, as he plots his way to what he hopes will be a breakthrough premiership.

The AFL has approved the Dockers' request to rest up to 11 players in Saturday's clash against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.

The Power cannot make the eight, while the Dockers are already assured of top spot, and will almost certainly host the Swans in a qualifying final a week later.

Power chiefs met on Monday afternoon to discuss the implications of the Dockers' request, with chairman David Koch later declaring his club would not feel disrespected by facing what could be considered a B-grade opponent.

"(It's) no problem for us. We pick our team and they pick their's. We play whoever turns up on the day," Koch said.

"Our view is they've earned the right to manage their list in an any way they like."

However, there could be inadvertent ramifications for the ninth-placed Power. Should they lose, which now seems unlikely, they may slip down the ladder, with the benefit of this being they would accrue a higher draft pick.

With at least seven changes expected, the move will also impact the Dockers' WAFL affiliate, Peel Thunder, which is set to feature in their first final this weekend.

Several betting agencies have also taken the rare decision to suspend betting until Thursday evening when the teams are named.

Brownlow Medal favourite Nat Fyfe has already been ruled out of the clash because of injury, so voting ramifications may be minimal. However, fantasy football diehards were complaining on social media about the impending withdrawal of key players.

With the likes of stars Matthew Pavlich, Aaron Sandilands and Luke McPharlin in their twilight years, Lyon knows time is ticking on his group.

That he has not prevailed in four grand-final appearances as coach of the Dockers and St Kilda, including the drawn 2010 clash, can only add to his desire for a meticulous preparation.

Former Melbourne and Sydney champion Gerard Healy was one of several commentators to endorse Lyon's move, declaring it was within the Dockers' right to make that call.

Dockers chief executive Steve Rosich said a range of issues needed to be assessed before a final call on team selection was made.

"When the players return to the club on Tuesday, our coaching team and medical staff will be able to assess the fatigue and injury status of our main group. This assessment will then help determine the availability of players for our last home and away game," Rosich said.

"At this stage our initial assessment is that up to 11 of the players who played in round 22 may not be selected for our round-23 fixture.

"It is a long hard season and our players have been rewarded for their efforts to date."

In a statement, the AFL said: "Under the AFL rules, Fremantle is entitled to consider the management of injury and fatigue for its players before the upcoming AFL finals series and the AFL position is the club is fully complying with the AFL's rules."

That approval was granted under AFL rule 29 - To Perform on One's Merits.

This rule was amended in 2013 after the third-placed Dockers, under Lyon, made 11 changes for their final-round clash with St Kilda, then 16th on the ladder. The Dockers lost by 71 points.

However, the Dockers had 10 players return the following week and won their qualifying final against Geelong at Simonds Stadium by 15 points.

The rule says: "(It) means at all times to perform honestly and to the best of one's ability in the pursuit only of legitimate competitive objectives.

"For the avoidance of doubt 'legitimate competitive objective' includes the development of the team or players or management of player fatigue or injuries but does not include improving a club's draft position, improving a club's position with respect to a potential player exchange or manipulating a club's position on the ladder for the purpose of improving its draw within the finals series."