Don’t expect a raft of changes at the Fremantle selection table for Friday night’s clash with the Cats at Domain Stadium.

Addressing the media in Perth on Wednesday morning, Dockers coach Ross Lyon played down suggestions he would swing the axe following his side’s 32-point loss to Melbourne in round 16.

“It’s so hard to cut one or two out of the herd when it was an across the board performance,” Lyon said.

“We’ll pretty much go with the same group. There might be one of two changes.”

One guaranteed change will be the return of midfielder Michael Barlow. The 28-year-old broke his finger against Collingwood some three weeks ago and required surgery as a result.

He is key cog in a Fremantle midfield-machine already lacking Brownlow-medallist Nat Fyfe and ruckman Aaron Sandilands, and Lyon rates him a strong chance to take his spot in the side.

“Michael feels really confident,” the Dockers coach said.

“If he gets through training he’ll play.”

Some doubt does still linger over the health of captain David Mundy after the ball-winner sustained a concussion against the Demons — but he too is expected to play.

Outside of the more established names, Josh Deluca responded in the perfect way to being elevated from the rookie list when he gathered 26 disposals in the WAFL. Clearly pushing hard for a debut, the second-year player may be forced to wait at least another week to earn his stripes if his coach’s comments regarding team selection are anything to go by.

Of those who may make way for Barlow however, skillful defender Darcy Tucker could find himself on the outer after only collecting 8 disposals in the loss to Melbourne. Hard-edged midfielder Nick Suban was not much better to only register 9 disposals himself but may be saved given his experience, whilst Lachie Weller capped off a lean run of games with just 10 disposals of little impact to place himself in the gun as well.

With one change, here is how the Dockers are predicted to line up against the Cats in round 17:

OUT: D.Tucker
IN: M.Barlow