FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon will tell his players to "attack the game" against Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday, rather than having a defensive approach against the ladder-leader's army of in-form midfielders.   

With Dane Swan, Dayne Beams, Steele Sidebottom and Dale Thomas all looming as potential game-breakers in the midfield, Lyon said Fremantle would continue to set at least one tag.

But after using both Ryan Crowley and Tendai Mzungu in run-with roles against Essendon last week, he said having an attacking mindset this week would be important. 

"We ran with unusually two [tags] last week, with bit of a work-off role as well," the coach said on Thursday as Fremantle flew out of Perth without key players Stephen Hill and Zac Dawson.

"We always set one, but they've got so many, where do you start? Swan, Beams is in outstanding form, Sidebottom.

"We want to keep playing how we want to play, and attack the game and take it up us much as we can to Collingwood on their home turf."

Lyon said that after squandering a 17-point lead against Essendon and failing to kick a goal in the final quarter, his team couldn't afford any lapses against Collingwood, which has won nine consecutive games.
 
"They are a benchmark team in the competition," the coach said. "You like to play the best and get a measure of where you're at and we're looking forward to getting back to the MCG.

"We'll see who the competitors in the team and the club are and we're pretty keen to give great effort and see where we're at."

Lyon said Hill (ankle) and Dawson (knee) were close to proving their fitness and the club was confident both would be fit to face the Western Bulldogs in round 15.

Hayden Ballantyne returns from suspension and will play as a forward, Lyon said, while defender Dylan Roberton travelled with the team and will play his first game since round eight if selected.

Young midfielder Jesse Crichton did not travel with the 24-man squad, while Hayden Crozier (illness) will also miss. First-year players Tom Sheridan and Lee Spurr were on the plane.

"I think you need a balance of the inside hit and the outside spread and I think we've picked a reasonable team for that," Lyon said.

"We've picked the team that we think will be up for the fight and then there's plenty to look forward to.

"Things are tightening up a little bit, there's some good competition, and it's great to have some form [players] like Spurr and (Michael) Walters and Sheridan underneath.

"We're quite buoyant about our future prospects and finishing off the second half of the year."

Lyon said midfielder Anthony Morabito had been unable to train fully this week after he was concussed in an off-the-ball hit in the WAFL last Sunday.

The line-breaker had been closing in on an anticipated AFL return following a full knee reconstruction and won't play in the WAFL this week as his club, Peel Thunder, has a bye.

Lyon said skilful forward Walters, who was suspended by the club earlier this season for not meeting fitness benchmarks, was close to selection.

Nathan Schmook covers Fremantle news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Nathan