FREMANTLE coach Mark Harvey appears set to continue using skipper Matthew Pavlich in the centre of the ground following the loss of midfielders Rhys Palmer (knee) and Ryan Crowley (foot) to long-term injuries.

Harvey said he will maintain some unpredictability in where he uses his star player, but added that with a young side it was important to have Pavlich directing the midfield.

Pavlich had a quiet month to start the season, but he has sprung to life the past two weeks shaping wins over the Sydney Swans and West Coast from the midfield.

"It's really important with these younger players that we're putting through the midfield, for Mathew to be there and guide them and make them understand about where the momentum of the game starts," Harvey said on Wednesday. 

"When you play as a key forward and you're a dominant forward, what happens is the game is in front of you, you don't get it your way a lot of the time, because sides are so good at pushing back as soon as they lose control of the ball."

An All-Australian shoot-out between Pavlich and Carlton captain Chris Judd looms as a possibility at Carrara Stadium this Saturday, with Harvey floating the match-up in the absence of his main tagger Crowley.

"There will be periods where Matthew will play on him," Harvey said.

"That always adds to the game. People go to watch those types of contests.

"Matthew loves those sorts of challenges. And they're both great players, so we'll see how we go."

Harvey said Fremantle would have a light week on the track to avoid a western derby hangover ahead of its trip to the Gold Coast.

Fremantle has never won in Queensland and has never played at Carrara, but the coach said facing Carlton away from their home ground was a positive.

"A lot of sides haven't played there for a number of years and we're one of those," he said.

"For whatever reason, they've decided to take a game at Carrara. What better way to actually take on a side like Carlton who are moving towards that top four?"