Pacy forward Shane Yarran will make his long-awaited debut for Fremantle when the Dockers take on Gold Coast on Saturday.
The 27-year-old mature-aged recruit, who was released from jail in 2013 after serving time for burglary, is yet to play for the Dockers since being taken with pick 61 in the 2015 national draft.
He has been restricted to just five WAFL games this year because of knee and calf issues.
And the pacy forward, who won the Bernie Naylor Medal playing for Subiaco last year, hasn't set the world on fire this year, kicking just six goals.
He was close to playing a few weeks ago, but got himself into hot water after he was fined $800 by the Perth Magistrate's Court after pleading guilty to one count of disorderly behaviour in public, and one count of failing to obey a move-on notice.
Yarran is likely to fill the void left by veteran Matthew Pavlich who has been rested for the Dockers game against the Suns at Metricon Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Dockers coach Ross Lyon said Yarran has had "some challenges along the way" but deserved his chance.
"He's come through the door as a higher-end athlete than we thought," Lyon said. "He's put on four or five kilos here and he's an extreme speed and endurance sort of athlete, and he's a goalkicker. Unfortunately he had those calf problems, so we would have seen a lot more of him. But from here he gets an opportunity.
"We're thrilled to give him an opportunity. If he can lay a few tackles, play in the front half and kick a few goals, we'll be thrilled. He's obviously had some challenges along the way and he's held himself together, but the real work starts now. AFL footy's a big challenge."
Lyon said he didn't want to dwell on Yarran's recent indiscretion.
"There's deposits and withdrawals, isn't there," he said. "Obviously there was a slight withdrawal, but if you've got all these deposits when you walk through the door, you're just stacking them up. There's your deposits and there's your withdrawals and you balance it up.
"We always support the person and challenge the behaviour. We believe he's a good person who's had some challenges – he's building his life and is trying to redeem himself. I can only judge him since he's walked through the door here. You can only take people as you find them."
As well as resting Pavlich, the Dockers will also be without injured duo Hayden Ballantyne (cheekbone) and Michael Barlow (AC joint) for the clash against fellow bottom four side Gold Coast.
