Geelong and how well Fremantle can recover from the heat stands between the Dockers and an historic first ever appearance in an AFL pre-season final.

Fremantle won its NAB Cup quarter-final against Collingwood at Subiaco Oval 0.15.10 (100) to 2.10.6 (84) on an evening when the temperature remained in the 30s.

However, the understrength Magpies, led by Chris Tarrant, gave the home side a scare, hitting the lead 16 minutes into the third term.

The Dockers travel to Melbourne to take on the Cats in a semi-final at the Telstra Dome on Saturday night.

Both coaches used their benches extensively and took their players into the shade at the quarter and three-quarter time breaks to give them some relief.

Collingwood didn't hurry back for the second half with the Fremantle players almost in position before their opponents returned to the field.

Jeff Farmer kicked five goals for the winners including the match sealer in the fourth quarter where he ran around his opponent and slotted home a banana kick.

Tarrant finished with three for the Magpies.

Star Fremantle forward Mathew Pavlich came through unscathed in his first appearance since off-season surgery.

Collingwood, without star trio Nathan Buckley, James Clement and Anthony Rocca, started the better of the two sides and opened the scoring through a Leon Davis super goal.

Hasleby responded for Fremantle with a six-pointer while resting up forward but Davis again answered with a set shot from 25 metres out.

Fremantle kicked the next three goals through Justin Longmuir, Luke McPharlin and Paul Medhurst but Josh Fraser stemmed the flow early in the second.

Chris Tarrant kept his team close with two goals in the second term. His second was a spectacular snap from the left forward pocket just before the main break.

Fremantle got the first two of the third quarter through Farmer and McManus to extend the lead to 17 points but Tarrant's third and a super goal to Ryan Lonie got the Pies within two points 10 minutes into the term.

James Walker responded for Fremantle but a mark and goal to Dale Thomas and another to Ben Johnson had the visitors sniffing an upset.

Fremantle steadied through Crowley and Pavlich to take a seven-point lead into the final quarter.

Shane O'Bree got the first goal of the final term for the visitors with a left foot snap in the pocket but a contentious free kick to Pavlich who goaled from the square and two goals to Farmer saw the Dockers home.

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