Clarke, 26, is tipped to sign a new deal early next week.

But futures for popular on-baller Michael Barlow and big defender Alex Silvagni appear highly unlikely.

Dockers recruiting management attracted key forward targets Shane Kersten and Cam McCarthy, dashing winger Brad Hill and full-back Joel Hamling in trading coups to get the West Australian products back home to continue their careers.

Barlow, 28, and Silvagni, at 29, were told by Dockers coach Ross Lyon last month that final decisions on any prospects of new deals would be made after assessments of overall trading and further recruiting plans for next month's national draft process.

The Dockers have draft picks at seven, 35, 40 and 71.

Announcements on Barlow and Silvagni's futures are tipped to be made within days but, if they are cut from Fremantle as expected, they will hope to get another chance as de-listed free agents or through the national draft late next month.

Clarke is believed to have explored alternatives around the AFL as an unrestricted free agent ahead of this month's trade period but attracted little interest.

He now looks set for a three-year Dockers extension as lead ruck pair Aaron Sandilands and Jon Griffin round out their careers.

A new deal will most likely lead to Clarke playing out his career at Fremantle.

Clarke had surgery to his nagging knee injury last month after managing 13 senior games this year and 14 last season.

The gangly ruck specialist has played 101 games at Fremantle since he was drafted as a third-round pick and number 37 overall back in 2008.

He is considered a long-term ruck replacement for Sandilands, who will play his 15th AFL season next year at 34 and build on his accomplished 244-game career.

Griffin, 31, is also into the closing stages of his playing days after 90 appearances.