After waiting patiently since being upgraded in the pre-season, the young midfielder said he was looking forward to making his debut on the big stage in captain Matthew Pavlich's 200th game.

"I never really set a time period to play an AFL game. I just thought if I kept working hard and kept pushing for selection, I’d get the opportunity," he said.

"I was named as an emergency a few times, so I thought I might be getting close. Now I’ve been picked, I’m pretty excited."

Coach Mark Harvey said de Boer wouldn't necessarily play in the midfield, but would go some way to replacing Palmer, who will have his knee reconstructed on Friday.

"Every club goes through an injury list, but when you lose one of your star midfielders like Rhys it can be difficult," Harvey said.

"That puts a lot of pressure on guys to fill the void in that area."

Andrew Foster returned to senior football with WAFL side East Fremantle last week and has been named as an emergency alongside Marcus Drum and Daniel Gilmore.

Harvey said he would tell his charges playing in their first Western Derby to enjoy the moment and treat it as an honour, but he denied his side would be vulnerable taking in three first-year players.

"I think what you need to happen is for your experienced players to bring along your younger players in a game like this," he said.

"They have to lead from the front. There is a heavy reliance on our experienced players playing well.

"What you normally find is if they do play well, the younger players join in immediately. That's the chemistry that you need."

Carlton Mid Derby XXIX will have extra significance as captain Matthew Pavlich's 200th match.

Harvey said the build-up had been notably quiet for a derby, but said it shouldn't be with the numbers seemingly aligning for Fremantle to win its sixth derby from the last seven encounters.

"It's the 29th derby, Matthew Pavlich wears number 29 and he's playing his 200th game," Harvey said.

"In recent times, the game's had it all and I think both sides are growing in stature.

"Both sides have got younger lists and we’re evolving. That all adds to a spectacle on Saturday that should be a close game."

THE TEAM
B: Roger Hayden (43), Michael Johnson (37), Antoni Grover (14)
HB: Nic Suban (8), Luke McPharlin (18), Steven Dodd (25)
C: Byron Schammer (3), Paul Hasleby (4), Garrick Ibbotson (5)
HF: Paul Duffield (41), Chris Tarrant (20), Stephen Hill (32)
F: Brett Peake (7), Matthew Pavlich (29), Dean Solomon (6)
Ruck: Aaron Sandilands (31), Ryan Crowley (15), David Mundy (16)
I/C: Ryan Murphy (28), Matthew de Boer (40), Clayton Hinkley (19), Scott Thornton (22)
Emg: Marcus Drum (9), Andrew Foster (21), Daniel Gilmore (27)

In: Matthew de Boer (debut)
Out: Rhys Palmer (knee)

DEBUTANT
Matthew de Boer was recruited from Claremont. He was a WA under-18 representative in 2007 and 2008, won All-Australian honours last year and played 14 games for Claremont in the WAFL.

In the 2008 NAB AFL Rookie Draft, he was Fremantle's second pick (No. 19 overall). He was elevated from the club’s rookie list to the senior list in March.

Weight: 83kg
Height: 187cm
DOB: 10/3/90

MILESTONE
Matthew Pavlich – 200 games for Fremantle

FORECAST (Perth)
Saturday: Fine. Min 12 - Max 27

BROADCAST DETAILS

TV
FOX Sports 1
Live 2pm nationally
Channel 10
Live 2pm into WA

Radio
Live on 6PR and ABC
** check local guides **