Some very big ins

This week’s Freo Line-Up at 4.25pm WST on Thursday will feature arguably the best set of inclusions in this club’s history. Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands are all but confirmed starters, while Michael Barlow and David Mundy are also highly likely to resume, as is a key piece of the defence, Lee Spurr. Freo fans everywhere are rubbing their hands with anticipation.

Who goes out?

If four or five players return, some players will have to be the unlucky ones to miss out. Jack Hannath and Matt Taberner could be the logical like-for-like outs for Sandilands and Pavlich. The young talls have been solid this season, but the players coming back are two of the greatest to ever represent Fremantle. Spurr should also be right to resume and will replace the injured Paul Duffield in defence. If both Barlow and Mundy return, youngsters Tom Sheridan, Hayden Crozier and debutant Viv Michie are among the most likely to come out.

Ross v Saints at Patersons

This will be the first encounter at Patersons Stadium between Ross Lyon and the side he coached into three AFL grand finals, St Kilda, which never lost to Freo under him at the ground. The Saints are not as potent as they were during Lyon’s reign there from 2007-2011 and are currently 15th on the ladder with just three wins from 13 starts. The nucleus of the 2009 and 2010 AFL bridesmaids is mostly intact, with skipper Nick Riewoldt still in good form, and midfielders Nick Dal Santo and Leigh Montagna running around in the engine room. The inspirational Lenny Hayes is also a chance to resume. Fremantle won a pulsating contest between the two sides at Etihad Stadium in round 4 last year and will be buoyed by the expected return of a number of stars.

The ladder

Freo dropped out of the top four following its loss to Geelong on Saturday night, with Essendon leapfrogging Ross Lyon’s side. The Bombers play an in-form Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium this week. A Fremantle win will send it four points closer to either Geelong or Hawthorn, who meet on Saturday night. Sydney is expected to win easily against lowly Melbourne. Richmond has also entered the fight for the four following an impressive month of football. The Tigers are sixth, just two points in arrears of fourth-placed Sydney and fifth-placed Freo, which it meets at the MCG in round 17.

Does Kosi play game 200 in Perth?

St Kilda veteran Justin Koschitzke played his 199th game for the Saints on the weekend. He has been in and out of the side this year but St Kilda is looking to get him to 200. While the end of his playing days appear near and with his side out of finals contention, it remains to be seen if ‘Kosi’ will be flown to Perth this weekend or be held back to celebrate his milestone in front of his home fans.