Ahead of the vital clash with Greater Western Sydney on Saturday, Fremantle senior coach Justin Longmuir has provided some insight into the Club’s ruck selection considerations.

After being a late withdrawal last weekend, Longmuir confirmed that number one ruckman Sean Darcy would be working against the clock ahead of team selection on Thursday.

“He’s coming along better. He hasn’t done much since the game, so he will do a bit more today at training," Longmuir said during his Wednesday morning media conference.

"We will try to get him in at the back end (of the week) and see how he goes.

“This is why you have a list of players, and players have been waiting for opportunities all year, and a couple have presented themselves in the last few weeks.

“We get to test that depth and test our squad, which is what you have a squad for.”

Reflecting on last weekend’s loss and the potential ruck combinations the Club could go forward with for the Giants clash, Longmuir noted that missing key forward Josh Treacy was also a factor.

“When Jacko (Luke Jackson) is rucking, Treacy is usually our second ruck, so we missed him there as well,” Longmuir said.

“We’re hoping Sean gets up, so we don’t have to cover that as much this week.”

When questioned if Liam Reidy was the likely replacement for Darcy if the 26-year-old was deemed unavailable again, Longmuir explained that multiple factors were considered when deciding not to debut Reidy against the Cats.

“There is a possibility (Reidy debuts this week); a lot goes into that decision,” Longmuir said.

“We probably thought Sean was going to play (against Geelong), and to make your debut as a carryover, whether that’s the right thing for someone (was considered).”

Ultimately, Reidy played a full game for Peel Thunder, notching up an impressive 54 hit-outs, 19 disposals, and four tackles in the 10-point win over South Fremantle.

“He (Reidy) needed to get minutes in case Sean doesn’t get up this weekend,” Longmuir said.

“If he had missed last weekend, that would have been one game in five weeks, so match fitness becomes an issue.

“Against Geelong last year down in Geelong, Luke (Jackson) played as the number one ruck and did a really good job, so we probably leaned on that evidence.

“He will be more prepared because he got a full game at Peel, he got some good ruck minutes, a lot of ruck contests. He will be better placed if called upon to debut this week.”

Reidy has averaged 44.38 hit-outs, 11 disposals, and four tackles per game in his 13 appearances in Peel’s league side in 2024.

Longmuir also declared that important key forward Treacy was "more unlikely than likely" to travel for the clash at Engie Stadium.

"It's improving (Treacy's injury), but we just can't take a risk on it, so there's a chance he'll miss another week," Longmuir said.