Aaron Sandilands insists he doesn't need a rest, despite Fremantle coach Ross Lyon's oft-repeated desire to give the veteran big man a break.
Sandilands has shouldered a hefty ruck load this year, playing 82 per cent game time in the AFL's most physically demanding position.
But the 35-year-old, who declared during pre-season that he wanted to play every match in 2018, isn't putting his hand up for a week off.
"Obviously, I'm getting managed pretty well from the strength and conditioning (staff) and the physios throughout the week," Sandilands said.
"Come the end of the week, I'm ready to go again.
"At the moment, I don't need one (a rest).
"I think it's a week-to-week thing. The focus is to try and do as much recovery as possible throughout the week so you're right to go.
"That's a conversation we'll have with Ross throughout the year, and if we need it, we'll take it."
Lyon has felt unable to rest Sandilands since his ruck protégé Sean Darcy went down with a PCL injury.
The Freo coach believes draftees Lloyd Meek and Scott Jones still need some development at WAFL level, while injury-ravaged Michael Apeness has just returned at Peel following an ankle issue.
In his 16th season, Sandilands remains integral to Freo's fortunes and, with the season alive at 3-3, the Dockers are relying on the veteran to take on Richmond bulldozer Toby Nankervis at the MCG on Sunday.
"He's a quality ruckman. The last couple of years he's really dominated and it's going to be a great challenge to try and negate that," Sandilands said.
"His follow-up work and his ruck work is really strong. It's another challenge I'm looking forward to."
Sandilands rejected talk facing the Tigers at the 'G – where they have won a club record 12 straight – was mission impossible.
Fremantle upset Richmond at the home of football in an after-the-siren thriller in round eight last year, and Sandilands is confident Freo's vastly-improved ball movement and pressure brand will stand up.
"They're the best in the business. You want to compete against the best and it's a really good opportunity to see where we're at against those guys," he said.
"From that, you grow and learn and we feel like if we bring the effort and gameplan we want to stick to, we'll be right in there with them."
