Sydney coach Paul Roos is adamant his charges won't take struggling Fremantle lightly when the two AFL teams clash at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.

The Dockers are yet to win this season and have endured another week of constant criticism, plus the added distraction of the Ku Klux Klan saga that engulfed the club on Tuesday.

But Roos said Fremantle were "unlucky" not to have won a game this season, believing the youth-laden Dockers were in a similar rebuilding phase to the Swans.

"We're trying to find some consistency, a little bit like Freo I guess ... trying to mix youth with experience," Roos said in Perth on Thursday.

"We are very aware they've played a lot of good footy over the four week period, they're probably a bit unlucky to be 0-4.

"Freo were in the game against the Bulldogs and were in the game against Adelaide, so they're certainly playing good football in different parts of the game.

"They've got some exciting players, they've got some experienced players and they've got some very talented players so we are preparing for their best and we know their best is very good.

"They really had a downer last week but every team goes through that at different stages, particularly when you are trying to integrate younger players with more experienced players.

"There's no question they've played better football than 0-4."

Fremantle coach Mark Harvey swung the axe following last week's 83-point capitulation to St Kilda, dropping Daniel Gilmore, Kepler Bradley and Josh Head.

Into the side comes forward Ryan Murphy, defender Scott Thornton and Clayton Hinkley.

Hinkley was one of the players caught up in the Ku Klux Klan saga, where a costume he wore during a prank was mistakenly compared with an outfit worn by the KKK.

Sydney made just the one change, bringing in midfielder Amon Buchanan for Jarred Moore.

But Heath Grundy is in some doubt after leaving the training track early on Thursday complaining of tightness in his leg.

Sydney have been a formidable force at home this season, beating Hawthorn and Carlton, but are yet to impose themselves on the road.

"I think similar to Freo ... we've got six or seven younger guys in the team and with that comes inconsistency," Roos said.

Roos said he would put a heavy emphasis on shutting down Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich, who has endured a quiet start to the season.

"Matthew's a star player of the competition and we rate him very highly," he said.

"He's like all those star players in teams that haven't won a game, they tend to cop most of the flak.

"But his form has been solid. He's been getting the ball, he's still their leading goalkicker.

"He's still their most dangerous player.

"We certainly won't forget Matthew Pavlich, I can assure you about that."

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