Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands won't be rushed back this week despite understudies Sean Darcy and Michael Apeness succumbing to injuries.
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Darcy will be assessed after limping off clutching his right groin late in Sunday's nine-point win over Port Adelaide.
The 2018 campaign of Apeness is over after he tore his hamstring while playing in the WAFL on Saturday.
Sandilands has been sidelined since injuring his calf during the warm-up of the round 15 loss to Brisbane.
The Dockers were hopeful Sandilands would be able to return for next week's home clash with Hawthorn and there are no plans to bring his return date forward.
If anything, Sandilands will need an extra week or two on the sidelines to minimise the risk of re-injury.
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon is hopeful Darcy's injury isn't serious.
But if Darcy is ruled out of Saturday's clash with Essendon at Etihad Stadium, three-game big man Scott Jones is set to be handed the responsibility of leading the ruck against Essendon duo Tom Bellchambers and Shaun McKernan.
Darcy tallied 15 disposals, 33 hitouts and five clearances in a strong showing against Port Adelaide.
It was just his second AFL game of the year after suffering an early-season knee injury.
Apeness has been plagued by injuries since making his debut in 2014, notching just 12 AFL games since then.
He looked to have turned a corner after stringing together five straight games for Fremantle, earning him a one-year contract extension last week.
But he might now require surgery following his hamstring tear.
"It's significant. It involves the tendon," Lyon said.
"It's a very fragile existence sometimes being a ruckman. It's a very tough business.
"You look in their eyes sometimes and you see the devastation. It's really difficult to be a coach in those times. All we can do is support them and get them to work hard.
"It's nice he has gotten the contract."
Fremantle managed to beat Port Adelaide despite being without star duo Nat Fyfe and Sandilands.
Fyfe is expected to be sidelined for at least three more weeks with his hamstring injury.
Defender Ryan Nyhuis is facing suspension for his body slam tackle that knocked Port star Robbie Gray unconscious.
Australian Associated Press
