Fremantle defender Garrick Ibbotson says Fremantle can't afford to be ambushed by Richmond on Saturday like they were in round 10.

The Tigers produced one of the upsets of the season seven weeks ago when they toppled the undefeated Freo Dockers at Domain Stadium.

The win was set up by a staggering first quarter assault, the Tigers kicking the first four goals of the match before Fremantle scored, and booting eight goals for the term.

It was the first time Fremantle had conceded eight goals in an opening quarter under Ross Lyon, and it was only the second time any team coached by Lyon had conceded eight goals in an opening term.

Ibbotson said Fremantle must respond quicker if the situation arises again this Saturday at the MCG.

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"To come out and kick (eight) like that, it put us on the back foot a little. We need to make sure if that was to happen again, that we can arrest that momentum," Ibbotson said.

"If we can get our hands on the ball and try and hold it for a little while and keep the ball off them, we can stem the flow."

The Fremantle Dockers have been the number one team for points differential in first quarters this season, and they dominated first terms in seven of the first eight matches of 2015. But they have won just one first quarter since, last weekend against Carlton.

"We talk about the importance of first quarters and how they set up a game for you," Ibbotson said.

"It was a real strength of ours early in the season. We do try and start really well every week.

"We haven't been playing our best footy in the last month or so. But on the weekend we took a step in the right direction."

Fremantle will face the Tigers without All Australian forward Hayden Ballantyne, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the home and away season with a pec injury.

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"He's a hard one to replace," Ibbotson said.

"But we have some guys playing good footy at the moment. Hayden Crozier played on the weekend. But to replace Hayden is going to be tough."

Crozier was the sub last week and seems the like-for-like replacement up forward in the starting 21.

The Freo Dockers have youngsters Ed Langdon, Connor Blakely and Lachie Weller all itching for an opportunity to debut. Clancee
Pearce dominated in the WAFL last week with 40 touches, but Tendai Mzungu and Paul Duffield would likely need a spot in defence to open up to gain a recall.

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Ibbotson said it was a tough time of the year for Ballantyne to get injured. Ibbotson suffered an Achilles injury in round 18 of the 2013 season and never got back, but he was backing Ballantyne to be ready to go come finals time.

"I think initially it was probably hard for him, not knowing where he was going to be at weeks wise, or whether he was going to play again (this year)," Ibbotson said.

"But I think we are looking at having him back at the end of the home and away season.

"He'll know if he gets all of his rehab right he should be OK."

Ibbotson said Ballantyne would be able to keep his running fitness up following his surgery, but his challenge will be maintaining his upper body strength and preparing himself for the physical nature of finals football.