Clarkson suggested on Monday that the  Norm Smith medallist might need to regain match fitness in the VFL,  having missed the past four games through suspension for his “choke hold” on North Melbourne’s  Drew Petrie.

Given key forward Jarryd Roughead has been suspended, and tag-team partner Jack Gunston is doubtful with a knee injury, having Lake in the team might allow Clarkson to push one of his  key defenders forward.

“We’ll make that assessment throughout the course of the week ... we need to have a look at the Fremantle side and how they might put their forward line together,” Clarkson said.

“We’ll make a determination on whether [Lake]  is best suited or whether he needs a run at Box Hill  to get some match fitness.”

Clarkson said he expected defender Matt Suckling to recover from illness for the Fremantle game.

Fremantle’s  Michael Walters is set to return on Sunday, after a solid comeback  in the WAFL on Saturday from ankle surgery.

But the news isn’t so good for key defender Luke McPharlin, who broke down with yet another calf injury in Saturday’s  loss to Geelong.

McPharlin has now been subbed off with calf troubles in two of his past three matches and will have scans to determine how serious his latest setback is.

Should McPharlin be unable to get his body right in time for the finals, Fremantle will be forced to rely on Alex Silvagni to fill the void in defence.

With aap