FREMANTLE has taken the extraordinary step of making 10 changes for the Dockers' clash with St Kilda on Saturday at Etihad Stadium.

After ruling out Michael Walters with a bruised knee and Nick Suban with hamstring tightness earlier this week, the Dockers have lost Stephen Hill to a hamstring problem and have rested seven others: Michael Johnson, David Mundy, Nathan Fyfe, Hayden Ballantyne, Lee Spurr, Zac Dawson and Zac Clarke.

The Dockers welcome back Aaron Sandilands, Garrick Ibbotson and Clancee Pearce from injury. Alex Silvagni, Peter Faulks, Matt Taberner, Jesse Crichton, Josh Mellington, Hayden Crozier and Alex Forster have also been included. Forster will make his AFL debut.

The Dockers have resigned themselves to travelling two weeks in a row despite the possibility they can still finish top-two should the Brisbane Lions upset Geelong on Saturday and the Dockers beat St Kilda.

Coach Ross Lyon denied his side was too far beyond this week's clash.

"We've taken some calculated risks on management of players that hopefully will bear fruit," Lyon said.

"We really aim to be very, very competitive this weekend. We've picked a team we think can win still. We understand it's going to be a really tough assignment.

"We've secured our spot, we can't really change too much, an opportunity has presented itself.

"One which we've, in consideration and consultation, taken to a large degree.

"We'll be flying and then we'll be flying the next week. Last year we flew two weeks in a row off two short six-day breaks that we think had a cumulative effect, so we're planning for a strong campaign."