FREMANTLE'S need for a dangerous crumbing forward could work in Hayden Ballantyne's favour with the 21-year-old poised to debut against Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday.
Wrist and back injuries have delayed Ballantyne's introduction to the AFL, but Harvey declared the small forward fully fit ahead of round 13 and said his selection hinged on Wednesday night's closed training session.
Des Headland is also on the cusp of returning after missing the past two matches with a quad injury, while Brett Peake will be considered after being omitted for last week’s clash with Geelong.
"We've got a number of guys who, [because of] either fitness…and/or form, we're looking at the training session," Harvey said from Fremantle Oval on Wednesday.
"Hayden's one of them.
"He plays at a really high tempo, so it wouldn't matter whether he played at WAFL level or AFL level, it would be the same risk.
"If you have a look at Collingwood, and possibly sides that have beaten them this year, sometimes a small forward can hurt them."
Being a seasoned player should fast-track Headland back into the side, with the 28-year-old set to return if he gets through training on Wednesday night.
Chris Mayne will also play his first game of football for the season in the WAFL, while the club suspects Clancee Pearce suffered cramp in his hamstring rather than a tear.
With Fremantle facing a six-day turnaround before it tackles Collingwood, Harvey said he would consider players from the WAFL, with Daniel Gilmore at the head of that queue.
Nonetheless, it will be a vastly changed Fremantle side to that which has won four of its past six fixtures against the Pies – including twice at the home of football.
Harvey conceded he had six players that had never played at the MCG, but dismissed suggestions they were due for a big loss against an in-form opponent.
"We're not looking at it in that way at all," he said.
"In fact we're looking at when we're just going to turn around this small margin that we're getting beaten by at the moment.
"That's our whole attitude."
