FREMANTLE draftee Tanner Smith could be trialled at both ends of the ground in Saturday's scratch match against Adelaide, with the club open to using the young key defender in attack.

Smith will be unveiled by Fremantle in a low-key trial match at AAMI Stadium on Saturday morning, with gun midfielders Nat Fyfe and David Mundy also launching their pre-seasons.

The 18-year-old was recruited as a key defender with pick No.36 in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft, and his long reach and closing speed are assets in the back half.

However, since arriving at Fremantle he has immediately stamped himself as one of the club's leading endurance runners and there is excitement about his ability to play as a forward.  

"I think in the TAC Cup he kicked four or five goals up forward in a couple of games, so I think he can play both ends," forward line coach Peter Sumich said on Friday morning as Fremantle flew out of Perth.

"We'll just wait and see with him.

"If he performs well (on Saturday) he might get another opportunity the following week (against Carlton at Etihad Stadium)."

Fremantle will use 26 players against the Crows, with key defenders Zac Dawson and Alex Silvagni joined in the squad by tall forwards Kepler Bradley and Zac Clarke.

With Aaron Sandilands sidelined, Sumich said Jon Griffin and 21-year-old recruit Jack Hannath would carry most of the ruck load, with Clarke to play predominantly forward.

He backed the club's ruck depth to again cover for Sandilands, who will be unavailable for up to eight weeks because of a serious hamstring injury.

"He'll get back on track fairly quickly," Sumich said of Sandilands, who has missed 19 games in the past two seasons.

"He’ll probably miss the early rounds and we'll go from there.

"It's difficult when you're pretty tall and you're going for a ground ball and those little things happen.

"He'll be back earlier than probably what everyone thinks."

Fyfe and Mundy will return to a Fremantle midfield that will still be missing club champion Ryan Crowley, who is recovering from a pectoral injury.

Captain Matthew Pavlich, who joined full training at Fremantle Oval on Thursday morning, will also be rested as he builds to full fitness following back surgery.

Hayden Ballantyne, Michael Johnson and Luke McPharlin are notable omissions for the trial game after featuring in the opening round of the NAB Cup.

Chris Mayne has also been left out after suffering a minor ankle injury in the club's shortened clash against Geelong.

Tanner Smith is a defender in NAB AFL Fantasy. Register your team at our AFL Fantasy Hub.

Nathan Schmook is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Nathan