Despite being a pre-season game, Fremantle senior coach Ross Lyon knows exactly what to expect against 2014 runners-up Sydney this Sunday.

Freo will travel to Sydney’s Drummoyne Oval to take on the Swans in the NAB Challenge.

All Australians Nat Fyfe and Aaron Sandilands, as well as Garrick Ibbotson, have been named in the 29-man squad and Lyon said they will be managed through the game.

MATCH PREVIEW

“We’re really enthusiastic about what we’ve got returning with Sandilands, Ibbotson and Fyfe…if they get through (training) will play,” Lyon said.

“We’ll probably restrict him (Fyfe), Ibbotson and Sandilands (to) maybe half a game, maybe three quarters, depending on how they feel.”

Reigning AFLPA MVP Fyfe will play his first match of the pre-season after recovering from a hamstring injury and Lyon said the 23-year-old will relish the prospect of taking on Sydney’s midfield.

“His (Fyfe) thing is he’s a competitive beast, so he’ll enjoy the challenge of facing (Kieren) Jack, (Josh) Kennedy, (Jarrad) McVeigh and (Luke) Parker…they’re an elite midfield.

“We’re under no illusions it’s going to be tough, but we also understand we’re also building.

“Sydney have beaten us in a couple of close games, so it would be nice to go up there and try get the points.”

One challenge that Freo will have to overcome will be the venue itself, an extremely narrow ground.

But Lyon said there will also be plenty of positives from the trip, regardless of the result.

“Everyone else gets to build and we get to play quality opposition, albeit on a ground that’s very narrow…112m wide,” Lyon said.

“If you think Kardinia Park is really narrow, I think it’s 118m or 115m, so this is 112m…so we understand there’s not going to be much space.

“It’s not ideal for us, but we think playing quality (opposition), and we’ll get some great weather and a good crowd.

“We get to go away and travel together…so it’s a good opportunity to practice that as well.”

With Luke McPharlin being rested and some other experienced outs, Lyon said there will be an opportunity for some youngsters to put their hand up.

“Tanner Smith will play, he’s really rebounded strongly over pre-season and he’s been defending really well, so it’s important we buy him some experience,” he said.

“We’ll probably take Connor Blakely, Max Duffy should play…he earned his spot and played really well last week.

“We saw at the back end of (last) year what he’s capable of, so we’re pretty keen to get him up as well.”

The match against Sydney won’t be televised, but Freo fans can watch the live stream of the game via fremantlefc.com.au at 1.10pm WST on Sunday.