Fremantle's reliance on youth is set to reach a whole new level after captain Matthew Pavlich was ruled out for 2-3 weeks with a calf complaint.

Pavlich limped off early in Fremantle's 84-point AFL loss to Collingwood on Saturday and although scans cleared him of a tear, they showed he had suffered a sprain.

The 27-year-old will definitely miss Sunday's clash with Carlton at Subiaco Oval and the following week's match against Adelaide, but the Dockers are hoping he can return for the round 16 game against Brisbane.

The absence of the six-time All-Australian will leave a major leadership void in a side already short on veterans.

A whopping nine players have made their debut for Fremantle this year, with last week's side featuring six of them.

That number would have been seven but Clancee Pearce was forced to pull out before the match with a hamstring injury.

The Blues could also be dealt a severe blow for Sunday's must-win clash, with key forward Brendan Fevola in doubt after undergoing finger surgery to repair ligament damage.

Pavlich has been one of Fremantle's most durable players throughout his glittering 207-game career.

He strung together 160 consecutive matches between round 15, 2001 and round 16, 2008, but had that streak broken late last year when he missed three of the last six games with knee and foot problems.

Pavlich had played every match this season before his latest setback.

Dockers midfielder David Mundy will be one player asked to fill the leadership void and the 23-year-old is primed to do just that in his 100th game.

"Obviously, he (Pavlich) is a great player and is quite a big presence on the field," Mundy said on Tuesday.

"So it's going to be a challenge for the rest of us to step up.

"I don't really know if there's any special or magic formula that we can take going into this week, it's just going to take a big effort."

Mundy, who contemplated a return home to Victoria at the end of last season before penning a new deal with the Dockers, has not missed a match since making his debut in 2005.

"I guess I've been quite fortunate and a bit lucky to get through," Mundy said of his remarkable run.

"It means a lot to me at the moment and I'm sure once I've finished my career and look back at it, it will mean even more.

"I've been lucky in that aspect (injuries), I've never done anything major.

"The club's shown a bit of faith in me, especially during lean trots with form, but I feel like I put the hard work in on the track and through the summer."

Defender Antoni Grover (cork) and tagger Steven Dodd, who was knocked out against the 'Pies but bravely returned to the field, are both expected to be available to take on the Blues.

Pearce is also a chance to return but Michael Johnson (ankle) is still listed as being 1-2 weeks away.

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