After watching his youth-laden squad get spanked by North Melbourne last week, Fremantle coach Mark Harvey says it's time to settle the side ahead of the club's AFL season opener against the Bulldogs on March 29.

Harvey, who threw many of the club's new draftees and rookies into the deep end in last week's 97-point loss to the Roos, said the time was right to wheel out the big guns, starting with Saturday's practice match against West Coast at Subiaco Oval.

"From an availability point of view you probably try and play somewhere near your 26-28 (players in the next two weeks) that will be in line for selection, barring injury at this particular stage, for round one," Harvey said.

"That's what we're trying to achieve."

Des Headland (calf, Achilles tendon), Chris Mayne (foot), Hayden Ballantyne (wrist) and Garrick Ibbotson (leg) couldn't be considered for selection against the Eagles, while Luke McPharlin is likely to be rested.

Harvey joked the club had gone "moon-boot mad", with both Headland and Mayne donning the protective shoe on Wednesday.

While Mayne is expected to be ready for the start of the season, Harvey said Headland was still only a "50-50" chance to get up.

West Coast, who have already confirmed their intention to rest ruckman Dean Cox against the Dockers, are also weighing up when to rest the likes of Matt Priddis, Tyson Stenglein, Darren Glass and Adam Selwood.

Midfielder Andrew Embley (knee) and Adam Hunter (shoulder) have already been ruled out of the Dockers clash, while star onballer Daniel Kerr (virus) will be assessed later in the week.

Roos swingman Drew Petrie booted five goals on Chris Tarrant last week but Harvey said the experiment of using the former Pie as a key defender would continue.

"There'll be some good match-ups there for him," Harvey said.

"But as I said ... he'll play back and forward."

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